Clark Eid, Ph. D. (Paddler, Chairman of the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome Research)
Clark grew up canoeing in the small Northwestern Minnesota town of Fertile. He instructed canoeing at the Boy Scout's Camp Wilderness near Park Rapids, MN and has canoed to York Factory on Hudson's Bay via the Middle Track.

Clark took up ocean kayak touring and kayak surfing during graduate school at UC Santa Cruz. He did many self guided kayak tours along the California coast, in Baja Mexico, and during trips to the Kingdom of Tonga, Fiji, and New Zealand. He later did some marathon canoe racing (C1 and C2) and made his first craft: a cedar strip canoe he called the "Dream Keeper".

Clark was a NIH postdoctoral fellowship at UCLA (1990-1992), and later had research positions with Eli Lilly and Company in Indianapolis, IN (1992-1997) and Bristol-Myers Squibb in Wallingford, CT (1997-2003). He is currently a research scientist with Wyeth Pharmaceutical in Pearl River, NY.

Clark and his wife Mary (Potter) have two children, Amanda and Noah, and live in New City, NY. Amanda has Rett syndrome.

Clark is the founder and Chairman of The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome. Clark built the Team's kayak, the "Double Helix" in honor of his daughter, Amanda.

Kurt Zimmermann, Ph. D. (Paddler)
Kurt grew up on a farm in Weikendorf in eastern Austria. In 1996 professional opportunities made him move to the USA. Kurt started canoeing in 1997 on a 14 day tour on the Horton river (NWT, Canada) where he fell in love with canoeing and the Arctic.

Since then he made several canoeing and kayaking tours in British Columbia, Maine, Wisconsin, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Kurt is a research chemist in the anti-cancer department at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Wallingford, CT. His little sister was in therapy at Dr. Rett's clinic in Austria, although for a different health problem.

Kurt at practice on the Connecticut river, Winter 2000-2001, just a tad bit iced over.

Kenton Spading, P.E. (Support/Co-Captain)
Kenton grew up in Kasson, Minnesota where, after he graduated from high school, began to work in his father's construction business. At age 24 he got the college bug and enrolled in the University of Minnesota where he became Clark Eid's long-suffering college roommate and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering.

Kenton has canoed all over Minnesota and especially enjoys trips to the Boundary Waters (Wilderness) Canoe Area. In his spare time he is a volunteer researcher for The International Group For Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR). TIGHAR expeditions have taken him to New Foundland in search of the French aircraft "The White Bird" and to Fiji, Nikumaroro, Funafuti, Palmyra and Kanton Islands in the South Pacific in search of Amelia Earhart's airplane.

Kenton currently works (when he is not golfing) as a hydrologic engineer for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul, MN.

Tony Swenson (Support/Co-Captain)
A life long friend of Clark Eid, Tony grew up with Clark in the same small rural community in Northern Minnesota. He developed his love of the outdoors through the extensive camping, canoeing and hiking trips that he and Clark embarked on as young men. Tony has been part of some very exciting adventures with Clark in the past and this one will undoubtedly be another. Tony lives in Minneapolis, MN with his wife and 3 children. He currently works as a Manager for The Pillsbury Company in the Package Design Department.

Andrew Gribble (Race support/entire length of Mississippi)

Andrew Gribble grew up in Minneapolis, MN, and received his graduate degree in Communication Studies from Northern Illinois University.

A former college professor, he is now self-employed in the multimedia industry, and produces CDROMs, online games and interactive learning modules. An avid paddler and forrmer Domino's Pizza delivery driver, Andrew is fond of saying that he can find any address in thirty minutes or less, and hopes to be able to apply this boast to the Double Helix as well.

Jeff is the middle person on the steps of the St. Louis arch, helping Team Kruger make a water landing. L to R in boat Verlen Kruger, Bob Bradford, front to back standing on stairs, Clark Eid, Jeff Romine, Stan Hanson.

Jeff Romine (Race Support)

Jeff bought his first canoe from his uncle about three years ago, and has been in love with canoeing ever since. This summer he canoed most of the Quinnipiac and Farmington Rivers and canoed many lakes during summer camping trips as well.

Although originally from Chicago, Jeff earned a doctorate in Organic Chemistry from The Ohio State University in 1987. After a two year post doctorate he joined Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1989 and presently works in Early Discovery Chemistry. He lives in Connecticut with his wife Karen and their five children.

William Schmitz (Race Support)

Bill was born and raised in Wichita Falls, Texas and has always had a love for outdoor activities. After graduate school at Texas A&M University and a postdoctoral appointment at Colorado State University, Bill accepted a position as Research Investigator in Neuroscience Chemistry at Bristol-Myers Squibb in Wallingford, CT.

Bill has taken advantage of several opportunities to be on the water since coming to Connecticut and joining team Double Helix. Bill¹s involvement in The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome Research stems from maintaining a sense of adventure that such an event will provide, but more importantly considering how people can support the efforts of those courageous enough to do daring things for worthwhile causes.

Eric Marshall (Race Support/Alternate Paddler)

Eric began paddling as a youngster, after he and his father spent a winter refinishing a canvas-and-cedar Old Town canoe that had been damaged by hurricane Agnes. Hours spent on, in, and under Cayuga and Conesus lakes in NY influenced his interest in nature and science.

Eric received a B.S. in physics from the University of Virginia and a doctorate in biophysics from the University of Rochester in 1990. Eric is now a research investigator at Bristol-Myers Squibb in the Discovery Analytical Sciences department, developing software for management and display of analytical data through the web. He lives in Killingworth, CT with his wife, Mary.

Johann Fembek (Race support/road crew) - from Austria
Johann FEMBEK was born in 1968 in Mistelbach/Zaya-Austria-Europe. He is a Chemist and works at the local Gas Provider of Vienna (Austria). Johann is also a proud member and administrator of the voluntary Fire Brigade of Breitstetten (his home town)

Johann and Edith (following) are engaged and want to give some meaning to their upcoming vacation, combining support for a good cause with an unusual way to experience America.

Johann and Edith want to support their friend Kurt Zimmermann and are proud that Dr. Rett was Austrian and that as Austrians they can actively participate in and support this charity event for Rett syndrome!

Edith Paule (Race support/road crew) - from Austria
Edith was born in 1965 in Bafang-Cameroon-Africa. She is a mom to 3 children, divorced, and currently engaged with Johann Fembeck. She speaks French, English, German and works in the hotel business.

Johann and Edith want to give some meaning to their upcoming vacation, combining support for a good cause with an unusual way to experience America.

Johann and Edith want to support their friend Kurt Zimmermann and are proud that Dr. Rett was Austrian and that as Austrians they can actively participate in and support this charity event for Rett syndrome!