Team Alaska MSC
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
Team Alaska; L to R, Bud Bourn, Kerm Ketchum, David Hoffman , Day before the start; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Alaska MSC (MSC stands for Matanuska-Susitna College)
Main Paddlers:
Tony DeGange
David Hoffman
Will Miles
Relief Paddlers:
Kerm Ketchum
Bud Bourn
Distance Goal:
Entire length of the Mississippi River
Type of Team:
Relay
Main Paddlers:
Tony DeGange
David Hoffman
Will Miles
Relief Paddlers:
Kerm Ketchum
Bud Bourn
Distance Goal:
Entire length of the Mississippi River
Type of Team:
Relay
Team Alaska; L to R Tony DeGange, Kermit Ketchum, David Hoffman; Day before the start;
Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska graciously welcomed paddlers/team members from other teams that disbanded.
2 Members of Team Rebels of the Mississippi valiantly joined Team Alaska During the Race in the 2nd Week, special thanks to Al and Eric who kept going..
Al Levine
Eric Kocher
1 Member of Team Amazons was welcomed to join Team Alaska in the 2nd week after that team stopped (significant hand injury that landed paddler in the hospital). She chose to stop after a day or two after missing her original teammate.
2 Members of Team Rebels of the Mississippi valiantly joined Team Alaska During the Race in the 2nd Week, special thanks to Al and Eric who kept going..
Al Levine
Eric Kocher
1 Member of Team Amazons was welcomed to join Team Alaska in the 2nd week after that team stopped (significant hand injury that landed paddler in the hospital). She chose to stop after a day or two after missing her original teammate.
Team Alaska morning of the start, L to R Bud Bourn, Tony DeGange, David Hoffman ;Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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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.
Team Alaska supplied both kayaks used during the race. The first one was eventually found by local police, and returned to Team Alaska when they headed home and stopped in Minnesota to pick it up. Alaska also conducted a scientific survey on plant and animal life as they traveled during the race! Several members of the Alaskan team completed a trip down the Mississippi river in 1999 as well. |
Race Start
Week 1
Team Alaska; Right before the start; Rett angel nearby; Paddlers L to R Tony DeGange, David Hoffman; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska right after the Start; L to R David Hoffman, Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Week 2
Team Alaska Going under the foot bridge right after the start; L to R David Hoffman, Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska Just finished going under the foot bridge; L to R David Hoffman, Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska Heading toward the foot bridge soon after the start; L to R David Hoffman, Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska between Lake Itasca and Bemidji; L to R David Hoffman, Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; L to R, Will Miles, Kerm Ketchum, Tony DeGange, Going over their new GPS, Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Tony and Will; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska near Lake Winny Dam, May 2001
Team Alaska Portaging Blanchard Dam; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; L to R - Will Miles and Dave Hoffman in the rapids below Cohasset Dam, MN; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Bud Bjourn; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska Portaging the Dam at Little Falls, MN; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska L to R: Eric Kocher, Tony DeGange , Al Levine and Will Miles; Eric and Al were originally from Team Rebels. Team Alaska graciously accepted Team Rebels and Team Amazon members after their teams withdrew during the first week. Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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 Team Alaska L to R: Eric Kocher and Al Levine, Red Wing, MN; Eric and Al, in the true spirit of this race to help those with Rett Syndrome joined Team Alaska to finish the race after their original team (Team Rebels) disbanded; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; L to R, Al Levine, Eric Kocher, Near L&D 26; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Eric Kocher; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska; Tony DeGange; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Will Miles in St. Louis, Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Tony Miles, Will Miles and Bud Bourn, St. Louis; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
St. Louis
Team Alaska Portaging Blanchard Dam; Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
Team Alaska in Memphis, TN, Great Mississippi Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
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Team Alaska Campsite, May 25, 2001
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Team Alaska L to R: Eric Kocher, Tony DeGange, Kerm Ketchum, Will Miles , Bud Bourn, Al Levine, May 31, 2001, Last Day, Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001