MR-340

Dear MR340 Family,

This summer, as the sun rose over Kaw Point and the river began to shimmer with hundreds of boats, I was reminded that the MR340 is far more than a race. It is a living story of perseverance, generosity, and community. It is a story written by every paddler, volunteer, safety boat, ground crew, and supporter who shows up year after year to make something extraordinary happen on the Missouri River.

The MR340 is a feat of endurance, not just for those in the boats, but for the remarkable network of people who keep them moving safely downriver. Behind every mile are staff and volunteers planning months in advance, board members offering support and leadership, crew members working around the clock, families cheering from the banks, and our race founder, Scott Mansker, whose vision and tenacity continue to inspire us all.

At Missouri River Relief, we are proud to carry the torch of this race. It takes our entire team to bring it to life, from logistics and safety operations to registration, dispatch, communications, and celebration at the finish line. Every department, every role, every person within our organization contributes to making sure the MR340 remains what it has always been: a testament to what’s possible when people work together toward a shared goal.

This year, for the first time, we’re inviting our MR340 community to help sustain the race in a new way by making a year-end gift to Missouri River Relief. Until now, we’ve relied almost entirely on race registrations and sponsorships to keep this incredible event afloat. But the truth is, it takes far more than that to run a race of this magnitude safely and sustainably.

Your support ensures that the MR340 continues to thrive, that we can maintain the highest safety standards, invest in equipment and training, care for our staff and volunteers, and keep the experience accessible to paddlers from all walks of life.

If this race has ever moved you, challenged you, healed you, connected you; we ask you to consider supporting the organization that makes it possible. Missouri River Relief is not just the host of the MR340. We are its caretakers, its storytellers, and its biggest fans. Your gift helps us keep the current flowing strong.

From all of us; the race team, the volunteers, the board, and every hand behind the scenes, thank you. Whether you paddle, crew, volunteer, or simply cheer from the shore, you are part of what makes this race one of the most remarkable communities on the water.

With deep gratitude and admiration,

Jami Wade
Executive Director
Missouri River Relief