The Beginning

The idea of the three Moore brothers attempting an epic adventure dedicated to the memory of our beautiful mother was cast soon after our mom passed away of colon cancer in 2007. Various ideas were discussed and eventually tabled as nothing really presented itself as feasible. Over Thanksgiving 2009, however, we were in Indiana visiting relatives when the subject surfaced again and the MR 340 was mentioned as the possible format. The MR 340 is a 340 mile river race down the Missouri River from July 27 thru July 30 in which competitors are allowed 88 hours to complete the distance. Immediately we got to work researching the event and reviewing the possibility of joining with a colorectal cancer foundation to raise money and awareness for this terrible disease. The team “3 Dudes In A Canoe” was born on January 4, 2010 and we were underway obtaining a boat and establishing a training program to get us through the 340 miles.

Our mother passed away from colon cancer in June of 2007 at the very young age of 54. She had successfully battled cancer after her first diagnosis in 2005 with surgery and chemotherapy but an aggressive version returned a year and a half later that she could not overcome. Kathy was raised in St. Louis and attended Cor Jesu Academy where she graduated in 1970. After receiving her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education at Missouri State in 1974, she married her college sweetheart, David Moore, and began her teaching career at Annunziata in Ladue until the school closed. Soon after, she taught at St. Lukes for two years before taking 15 years off to raise her boys. When the youngest son, David, entered 4th grade, Kathy returned, full-time, to St. Gerard Majella and then on to Sappington School in the Lindbergh School District in 1996 as a 5th grade teacher. During this time she earned a Master of Science in Education through Maryville University.

Kathy was a fantastic mom who prepared breakfast every morning and dinner every night for her family, made our beds, grocery shopped every week, helped with homework,” liked” all of the girlfriends we brought home, slipped us money on the way out the door during college, took us on vacations, loved her dachshunds, loved her granddaughter, loved her husband of 32 years, and loved teaching kids. She volunteered for numerous school events while wearing her teacher themed sweaters and somehow managed to be a wife during that time as well. She was missed from the moment she passed away and will continue to be missed for as long as we are alive.

The purpose of this undertaking is three fold. We want to bring attention to this disease since “colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer diagnosed in both men and women in the United States” according to the American Cancer Society. Early screening detections have increased and therefore have helped the numbers of people developing cancer decline, but many people still are not aware of this necessary prevention. The second reason for this is continued development in our family relationships. Our mom was instrumental in gathering the family together and that must continue in her absence. Lastly, we will be feeding our natural sense of adventure. The three of us bring different skills that have never been combined to attempt something of this scale. Our journey to ready ourselves for this event will be monumental…but, in the end, our mom would be proud of us and we are ready for the challenge. jm