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The
Race Course ...... Over 2300 miles of grueling conditions
including floating unreadable bogs, tornadoes, dangerous
storms, barges, tankers, wing dams and more.... all to raise
awareness and funds for research for Rett syndrome while
setting World Records!
Team
Kruger, in MN, passing a home in flooded waters
Team Double Helix, in MN
Team
Alaska, in the meandering Mississippi River in Minnesota,
just south of the Headwaters.
Team Rebels With A Cause near the start
Team
Amazons of the Mississippiat the start
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On
May 5, 2001, five daring, mighty teams of determined paddlers
gathered at Itasca State Park, Minnesota and began the
world's longest canoe/kayak marathon race.
All teams donated a tremendous amount
of time, money, hard work and sweat to participate in this
race! Physical and mental endurance were taken to the extreme
while attempting to paddle 2,348 miles nonstop to the
Gulf of Mexico to set new World Records!
More
importantly, participating teams and families from across
the world raised awareness of Rett syndrome in the general
and scientific communities while raising funds to find a cure.
A marathon of research, echoing the demands of this epic journey,
is our best hope for our children's future.
Race
Results - Teams Survive World's Longest, Toughest Race
In
true "Survivor" form, two teams of undaunted paddlers finished
the longest non-stop canoe/kayak race in history when they
arrived at where the Mississippi River enters the Gulf of
Mexico, ending an epic journey of 2,348 miles that encountered
everything from exhaustion to some of the worst flooding on
record. The race
started on May 5th, 2001 at 6:00 AM from the Douglas Lodge
area on Lake Itasca and ends af Mile 0 South of Venice, Louisiana!
Team
Kruger, led by the renowned Verlen Kruger and Bob Bradford,
placed first in their specialized canoe at 24 days, 17 hours,
51 minutes. Team Double Helix, featuring the event's unique
flagship kayak called the Double Helix, placed second at 26
days, 6 hours, 40 minutes. Team Alaska, showing
true perserverance and dedication, replaced a kayak
after it was lost in a harrowing rapids in Minnesota and stayed
in the race! Team Alaska remained on the river until May 31
and pulled out at mile marker 707. Teams Amazons of the Mississippi
and Team Rebels with a Cause made a gallant effort but had
to withdraw from the race after the first week.
Special
US Coast Guard permission was granted to travel on otherwise
"closed" sections of the river. Unfortunately, negotiations
for this cost the racers at least two days. The US Corp of
Engineers also permitted several Locks and Dams to be safely
navigated by going over their spill-ways. Foul weather, combined
with the unusually high flow rates, at times generated extraordinary
paddling conditions. Although all paddlers experienced some
physical trauma, only two required temporary hospitalization.
Race
Sanctioned by the United
States Canoe Association and American
Canoe Association.
Daily
Race Updates
Daily Location
Summary and Comments from our Safety Office Elizabeth
Tynan and from Persons Recieving official calls during
the twice daily check in for all Teams.
Week
1:
Day
1 - May 5 Sat Which team slept in a fish
hatchery the first night of the race?
Day 2 - May 6 Sun
Day 3 - May 7 Mon
Day 4 - May 8 Tue
Which 3 teams slept at the same park one night
and didn't know it. Which city affiliates themselves
with Verlen Kruger and why?
Day 5 - May 9 Wed
Which team is completing a study on birds and
has identified over 60 within the first few days of
the race?
Day 6 - May 10 Thu
Which team was the first to get stopped by a closed
lock and dam in what city?
Day 7 - May 11 Fri
Why did the first 2 teams go through Lock and
Dam 1 together? Which team decided to navigate
the river by following the mud hen houses that the
Corps has established for the preservation of that
species--ever so much easier that messing with maps?
Which team saluted cows as they passed by?
Week 2:
Day 8 - May 12 Sat
Which team had to withdraw due to a medical emergency
that landed one team member in the hospital? Which
team member left the river to shake Governor Ventura's
hand and to tell him about the Rett Race? Which team
has lost a kayak over a dam, swam safely to shore,
bought another kayak and resumed the race?
Day 9 - May 13 Sun
Which team sleeps under a happy hut? Which team has
a magical cook? Who auditioned to join Team Alaska?
Who bought a green kayak (named Kermit) from Toys
R Us and resumed the race?
Day 10 - May 14 Mon
Why are two team travelling together at this time
and for what reason? Which team has been stopped twice
by a closed lock and dam?
Day 11 - May 15 Tue
Who is encouraging groups hugs?
Day 12 - May 16 Wed
Which team has been pulled off the water by the
Sheriff's department? Who was sleeping under the happy
hut when this happened?
Day 13 - May 17 Thu -
Why are so many folks clamoring to join Team Alaska?
Where are the lead teams?
Day 14 - May 18 Fri -
What is yet another main attraction to joining Team
Alaska? Who reports floundering down the river? Who
is moving faster than the 1984 World record in part
due to high waters and fast current in flood stage
waters?
Week
3:
Day 15 - May 19 Sat
- Who slept in a tool shed called "chateau"
25 and for what reason? What is grackle murder?
Day 16 - May 20 Sun
- Who may use a gong to awaken the crew and what
teams received some true midwestern hospitality in
the form of home cooked food?
Day 17 - May 21 Mon -
Where did team Alaska sleep last night and
who got caught in raging storms that grounded the
whole crew?
Day 18 - May 22 Tue
- How did Team Alaska get to Louisiana so fast?
Day 19 - May 23 Wed -
How far apart are the lead teams? What is a wing dam
and why are they dangerous?
Day 20 - May 24 Thu -
Who interrupted a city council meeting to request
a free campsite (and got it)? Who has reported the
first official race tic bite? Who woke up to the sounds
of bells ringing in a casino? Who got caught in dangerous
lightening and rain storms?
Day 21 - May 25 Fri -
Spagetti dinner anyone? Paddle all night anyone? Southern
Hospitality again!
Week
4:
Day 22 - May 26 Sat -
What do cold wet paddlers and Bass boat have in common?
The Mississippi River.....
Day 23 - May 27 Sun -
What teams experienced yet more Southern hospitality?
Ate stir fry? And have a mini family reunion brewing?
Day 24 - May 28 Mon -
Cajun cookin', a really really bad hair day for Team
Double Helix and Bob and Verlen race a tug boat ....
Day 25 - May 29 Tue -
Team Kruger crosses the finish line first!
Day 26 - May 30 Wed
Day 27 - May 31 Thur
- Team Double Helix cross the finish line!
Race
is officially over at midnight 5/31/01 or when all
teams reach mile marker 0 South of Venice, LO, whichever
occurs first.
Race Pictures
Day
Before & Start:
Day
Before the Race - Getting Ready for the Race
Dinner
& Night before the Race - Rett Syndrome Families
host a Dinner for Teams
Morning Right Before
The Start - Last Minute Preparations
The Start - Teams
Draw Straws to Determine Order of Start,
Steve Landick Starts the Race,
During
the Race:
Team
Alaska
Team
Amazons of the Mississippi
Team
Double Helix
Team
Kruger
Team
Rebels with a Cause
Finish
Line/Last Day Photos:
Finish
line/day photo - Team Kruger is 1st, Team Double Helix
2nd, Team Alaska 3rd
More
Photos:
River
conditions, bogs, floods, barges, and Dangers
Race
Boats - Photos & Information
Videos
Start - Team Alaska
Culvert
- Team Amazons and Team Rebels portage around
a culvert in MN
Tammy
Hanson Talks About the Race - See Tammy Hanson,
mom to Rachel Hanson, talk about the race and what
it means to her. Rachel has Rett Syndrome. Tammy helped
host a free send off dinner for all teams and families
the night before the Great Mississippi River Race
for Rett Syndrome, May 2001.
Team
Kruger, during the race
Team
Double Helix, during the race
Kruger
Finish Line - Very dark, but you can hear them
talking. Kruger Team crossed the line at night.
Double
Helix Finish
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The Potter/Eid family at the Headwaters, Clark, Noah, Amanda
(in chair), Mary (standing)
"We
wanted to do a special charity event that would be remembered
for all time, so that we could help those with Rett Syndrome
for all time", Potter said.
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About
This Special Charity Event
The
Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001,
is the brainchild of Clark Eid. Clark Eid and his wife
Mary Potter planned this extreme charity event to raise
awareness and research money for Rett syndrome, a rare
and devastating neurological disease that has afflicted
their daughter, Amanda.
Rett
syndrome is a rare and devastating neurological disease
that affects 1 in 10,000, primarily female children, and
has no cure. Over 99% of all families affected by Rett
syndrome do not have any family history of this progressive
and deadly disease. There is no treatment for Rett syndrome.
Through
this charity event, participating
teams and families from across the world raised awareness
of Rett syndrome in the general and scientific communities
while raising funds to find a cure. A marathon of research,
echoing the demands of this epic journey, is our best
hope for our children's future.
The
Clock is Ticking!
Please
support research efforts today by donating to
Rett Syndrome research!
Please contact the Rett
Syndrome Research Foundation or Rett Syndrome
charity of your choice to find out how you can
support research for our children.
Information on Rett Syndrome
For
more information on Rett Syndrome research,
please see the Rett
Syndrome Research Foundation or
your favorite Rett Syndrome website/charity.
For
FREE BOOKLETS on Rett
Syndrome that contain
great information, pictures
and are free to download
please see
Rett
Syndrome UK and
the....
Meet
Other Rett Parents - Online and Free!
To
meet Rett families and parents online
who help other Rett families, please
join a listserv of your choice, or our
one of our favorites - the Rett
list or Clubrett
(both lists are free - no membership
fees, and both run by Rett parents/family
members).
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