OTL

A woman from Tennessee completed a 981-mile journey on Saturday. The unique thing about this journey is that it took place in the water.

Mimi Hughes, 45, just completed a 981-mile swim of the Ohio River. This journey began two months ago in Pittsburgh. She was able to celebrate on Saturday night at her final destination in Cairo, Ill. with a meal consisting of a veggie burger, fries, ice cream and beer. This was a welcoming change from her former diet of energy bars and electrolytes.

Hughes was not doing this swim just for herself; she was doing it in order to raise money for women’s education programs worldwide. She set out on May 22nd with the goal of swimming 20 miles each day. Hughes was in the water each of those days from eight to 12 hours. She would allow herself one day per week in order to rest.

“You use what you have. I don’t have political clout. I don’t have money, so I swim,” Hughes said while on a break in Louisville.

The Tennessee woman did not travel alone; she was accompanied by a filmographer making a documentary. She also had the help of some kayakers who monitored river traffic.

Hughes is a reading specialist at a community college.