Sponsors & Volunteers
Mississippi River Challenge for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophies, 2003
Guinness Record Setting Event for 2 different rare diseases!
We're often asked, "How did you fund this event?" Answer: With many kind donations, personal money, and a lot of sweat and tears from people who simply wanted to pitched in. We never tried to "hard sell" the event to others, to try to make them feel they had an obligation to help our sick children. Rather, we were respectful and simply told them of our event's objectives. If this connected with them...fine...if not, that that was fine as well. As a result, those who joined were truly partners in the adventure. Support came from the most remarkable people and companies, many of whom had not been aware of either Rett Syndrome or Leukodystrophy, simply because our goals were so well aligned with their own internal compasses!
Special thanks to all of our volunteers and sponsors! Their support and kindness made this event possible. Company sponsors are listed alphabetically below.
Ashland Chemical - Resin for two Kruger Cruisers
BGF Industries- Fiberglass and Kevlar for two Kruger Cruisers
Concept 2 Inc -Two Concept 2 Rowing Machines used Bob and Clark for training
Custom Coach, Cheshire, CT - Vehicle signs for support vehicles
Custom Cooke Sewing - Two Kruger Cruiser fabric spray decks/skirts
Crystal Clean Water Michigan
Dow
GlobalStar- Satellite phones and service
Greatland Laser- Two Rescue Laser Flare Magnums Clark Eid wrote about using these (read down towards the bottom of the page)
Kokotat - Dry Suits/Jackets/Pants/Clothing/PFDs/Throw Bags
Kruger Canoes - Kruger Cruiser race and support boat construction... nothing beats a Kruger canoe!
Luminox - Two Navy Seal tritium watches
Meade Johnson Nutritions - Boost drinks
Nite Rider - Discounted High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights used on the Kruger Cruiser
Press Enter Internet
Princeton Tech - Headlamps and flashlights
Rayovac - Never ending supply of batteries
Ritchie Navigation - Compasses used on the Kruger Cruisers... because man can't live by GPS alone...
Sospenders - Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices, worn at all times on the water during the entire event
Vermont Waterways - Two Concept 2 Rowing Machine Paddling Adapters for Bob and Clark (training when you can't be on the water)
Yakpads - Comfort seating pads for canoe seats in the Kruger canoe
Zaveral - Discounted marathon racing canoe paddles of superior quality
Special thanks to Ketter's Canoes, for their support, food, supplies and comfort when we were in Minneapolis, during both of our events.
Team Hope
Road crew members Captain Stan Hanson, Janet Bradford, Bill Pullen, Andrew Gribble, Jon Young, Mike and Denise Bradford & family and Angie Phelps & family provided their own time off to support this event, as well as anything not covered by sponsors needed by the road crew.
Special thanks to Stan and Dana Hanson and Janet and Bob Bradford for supplying their personal vehicles during this Event.
Donations for gasoline and food for the Road Crew are supplied by many kind individuals en route as well as by team members - we thank you!
Special thanks to Kruger Canoe for assistance with the race boat (used by Bob Bradford and Clark Eid during the 2003 Challenge) and a backup boat (used by support team during the 2003 Challenge). Bob Bradford and Clark Eid have assumed all costs and work not covered by sponsors to outfit the race boat and an identical backup race boat. Special thanks to Bob Bradford, Mark Przedwojewski and Verlen Kruger for building the boats.
And of course.... thanks to Bob Bradford and Clark Eid, our paddlers, who were just crazy and strong enough to do this... and thanks to their dedication to their families who are affected by two very different rare diseases.
Donations to Research, for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy
A special thanks to all those who bought T-shirts, attended the dinners, and donated money for research to the United Leukodystrophy Foundation and/or the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation. We do not list private individual donors due to privacy issues, but want to thank them publicly. Many thanks!
Minnesota Dinner and Send off...(story coming) Special thanks to Tammy Hanson and for all the Rett families who pitched in and helped to coordinate this dinner.
Parrish Boat.... (story coming) - Special thanks to Don Keller for coordinating this.
New Orleans Celebration Dinner/Party.....(story coming) Special thanks to Disiree Loeb-Guth for coordinating this, and thanks to all of those who participated and donated.
And With Additional Help From ....
Website Assistance
This website is provided free of charge by Mary Potter and Clark Eid to increase awareness of Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy through this charity event.
Reproduction of any part of this site is welcomed as long as you are increasing awareness of this event, Rett Syndrome, and Leukodystrophy through the media or your website. You are also welcome to use information from this website to promote awareness of rivers, river safety, canoeing, and river sports if appropriate. We simply ask that you always mention both Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy at least once in any article/website/broadcast that promotes this event, and that you give the information freely to help our children.
No one has our permission to use any race related information from this website, pictures, audio, video, our images or our logo for personal or private gain, for their own personal motives, or to embarrass anyone. There are always small dust-ups in an event of this magnitude. We tried always to put our best "public" foot forward to help our children, who suffer greatly, and appreciated everyone who helped.
Special thanks to all of our volunteers and sponsors! Their support and kindness made this event possible. Company sponsors are listed alphabetically below.
Ashland Chemical - Resin for two Kruger Cruisers
BGF Industries- Fiberglass and Kevlar for two Kruger Cruisers
Concept 2 Inc -Two Concept 2 Rowing Machines used Bob and Clark for training
Custom Coach, Cheshire, CT - Vehicle signs for support vehicles
Custom Cooke Sewing - Two Kruger Cruiser fabric spray decks/skirts
Crystal Clean Water Michigan
Dow
GlobalStar- Satellite phones and service
Greatland Laser- Two Rescue Laser Flare Magnums Clark Eid wrote about using these (read down towards the bottom of the page)
Kokotat - Dry Suits/Jackets/Pants/Clothing/PFDs/Throw Bags
Kruger Canoes - Kruger Cruiser race and support boat construction... nothing beats a Kruger canoe!
Luminox - Two Navy Seal tritium watches
Meade Johnson Nutritions - Boost drinks
Nite Rider - Discounted High Intensity Discharge (HID) Lights used on the Kruger Cruiser
Press Enter Internet
Princeton Tech - Headlamps and flashlights
Rayovac - Never ending supply of batteries
Ritchie Navigation - Compasses used on the Kruger Cruisers... because man can't live by GPS alone...
Sospenders - Inflatable Personal Flotation Devices, worn at all times on the water during the entire event
Vermont Waterways - Two Concept 2 Rowing Machine Paddling Adapters for Bob and Clark (training when you can't be on the water)
Yakpads - Comfort seating pads for canoe seats in the Kruger canoe
Zaveral - Discounted marathon racing canoe paddles of superior quality
Special thanks to Ketter's Canoes, for their support, food, supplies and comfort when we were in Minneapolis, during both of our events.
Team Hope
Road crew members Captain Stan Hanson, Janet Bradford, Bill Pullen, Andrew Gribble, Jon Young, Mike and Denise Bradford & family and Angie Phelps & family provided their own time off to support this event, as well as anything not covered by sponsors needed by the road crew.
Special thanks to Stan and Dana Hanson and Janet and Bob Bradford for supplying their personal vehicles during this Event.
Donations for gasoline and food for the Road Crew are supplied by many kind individuals en route as well as by team members - we thank you!
Special thanks to Kruger Canoe for assistance with the race boat (used by Bob Bradford and Clark Eid during the 2003 Challenge) and a backup boat (used by support team during the 2003 Challenge). Bob Bradford and Clark Eid have assumed all costs and work not covered by sponsors to outfit the race boat and an identical backup race boat. Special thanks to Bob Bradford, Mark Przedwojewski and Verlen Kruger for building the boats.
And of course.... thanks to Bob Bradford and Clark Eid, our paddlers, who were just crazy and strong enough to do this... and thanks to their dedication to their families who are affected by two very different rare diseases.
Donations to Research, for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy
A special thanks to all those who bought T-shirts, attended the dinners, and donated money for research to the United Leukodystrophy Foundation and/or the Rett Syndrome Research Foundation. We do not list private individual donors due to privacy issues, but want to thank them publicly. Many thanks!
Minnesota Dinner and Send off...(story coming) Special thanks to Tammy Hanson and for all the Rett families who pitched in and helped to coordinate this dinner.
Parrish Boat.... (story coming) - Special thanks to Don Keller for coordinating this.
New Orleans Celebration Dinner/Party.....(story coming) Special thanks to Disiree Loeb-Guth for coordinating this, and thanks to all of those who participated and donated.
And With Additional Help From ....
- Army Corp of Engineers
- Commander Jerry Torok and D.F. Ryan, Captain, US Coast Guard, Chief Marine Safety Division.
- Families affected by Rett Syndrome, including Tammy Hanson who organized the dinner for the team at the Mississippi River Headwaters.
- Families affected by Leukodystrophies, including Desiree, who organized the giant celebration in New Orleans.
- Rett Syndrome Research Foundation
- United Leukodystrophy Foundation
- Headwaters Canoe Club and Jim Haskell
- Press and Media folks, who have called much attention to our efforts, and helped raise awareness and research funds for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy!
Website Assistance
- Addme.com
- Blogger.com
- Bob Bradford - 2003 Paddler log, pictures, updates during the race.
- Findu.com and Steve Dimse
- Andrew Gribble - race blogger, road crew member, forwarded a copy of all road crew race pictures to us after the race, assisted with Findu.com, cameras, videos and the APRS during the race.
- Dana Hanson - webmaster "back up", blog updates from Stan Hanson.
- Tammy Hanson - Tammy helped coordinate the Minnesota kick-off dinner in Bemidji, on May 9. Tammy's daughter, Rachel, has Rett Syndrome. Tammy followed Team Hope for 3 or 4 days after the start, helped organized families and supplied food often to Team Hope. Please note Tammy Hanson is NOT related to Stan and Dana Hanson.
- Desiree Loeb-Guth - Desiree organized the New Orleans celebration dinner in New Orleans, June 1. Desiree's daughter, Lisette, has Canavan Disease. Desiree blogged, met with the team during the race, supplied food and organized families to meet the races during the race.
Kenton Spading - is our Army Corp of Engineers liaison for the race. - Press Enter
- Angie Phelps and her children, Jessie, Jacob and David - Angie's family is affected by Adrenoleukodystrophy.
- Mary Potter - Webmaster, Website Cost, Rett mom, race blogger via Clark Eid and anyone else who called/contacted her during the race.
- Clark Eid - Website Cost, Wording/Design, assistance on Website, 2003 Chronology, 2003 Paddler blog, Rett dad
- All road crew and land crew member or anyone I missed who added to the daily updates, blogs and pictures
- Stan Hanson - 2003 updates, pictures and videos.
- Kurt Zimmermann - Blogged during the race. Kurt was Clark Eid's paddle partner on Team Double Helix during our prior event, the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
- Additional Assistance from lots of friendly folks who just pitched in and helped.... if we missed someone let us know and we will be happy to add you.
This website is provided free of charge by Mary Potter and Clark Eid to increase awareness of Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy through this charity event.
Reproduction of any part of this site is welcomed as long as you are increasing awareness of this event, Rett Syndrome, and Leukodystrophy through the media or your website. You are also welcome to use information from this website to promote awareness of rivers, river safety, canoeing, and river sports if appropriate. We simply ask that you always mention both Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy at least once in any article/website/broadcast that promotes this event, and that you give the information freely to help our children.
No one has our permission to use any race related information from this website, pictures, audio, video, our images or our logo for personal or private gain, for their own personal motives, or to embarrass anyone. There are always small dust-ups in an event of this magnitude. We tried always to put our best "public" foot forward to help our children, who suffer greatly, and appreciated everyone who helped.