WD technician taking 240-mile kayak trip to keep friend's memory alive

Date: 22-May-08
News Release Number: ECL200805221
By Renee Hatcher NAWCWD Public Affairs

Brett Tanner, right, a technician in the NAWCWD Lifecycle Environmental Engineering Department, and former Ridgecrest resident Jerry Sparks take a break from training for their upcoming kayak trip they've planned in memory of their friend Jeremy Johnson. They hope to bring attention to, and raise research money for the rare disease that took Johnson's life, Wegener's granulomatosis. Contributed photo.

Jeremy "Miah" Johnson enjoys a four-wheel drive adventure on the Rubicon Trail before his passing in January 2007 from a form of Vasculitis known as Wegener's granulomatosis. Contributed photo.

Brett Tanner, left, a technician in the NAWCWD Lifecycle Environmental Engineering Department, and former Ridgecrest resident Jerry Sparks head out for a day of training in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Leo Carrillo. Contributed photo.

Brett Tanner, a technician in the NAWCWD Lifecycle Environmental Engineering Department, prepares to train for his kayak trip down the California coast in July in memory of his friend Jeremy Johnson.Contributed photo.

It has been said, "Good men must die, but death cannot kill their names."

Following the death of his best friend, Brett Tanner vowed to keep Jeremy ‘Miah" Johnson's name alive. Johnson, a lifelong Ridgecrest resident, passed away suddenly at the age of 34 in January 2007 of Wegener's granulomatosis, a form of Vasculitis. Tanner, a technician in the NAWCWD Life Cycle Environmental Engineering Department, has co-coordinated a kayak trip down the California coast in his memory, and to raise awareness and research money for the rare disease.

"Miah was just the best guy and would help anybody with anything," Tanner said. "He made a big difference in the world and I want everyone to remember him. His death really made me rethink my entire life and realize just how short life can be."

Former Ridgecrest resident Jerry Sparks is Tanner's partner in the memorial kayak voyage. Sparks is putting his kayak in the water June 9 near the California-Oregon border in Crescent City, making his trip total about 600 miles. He will head south making the first part of the voyage alone until meeting up with Tanner in Santa Barbara on July 19. From there, the two will paddle the rest of the 240 miles to Mission Beach together. They plan to do anywhere from 11 to 27 miles a day and expect to arrive on or around Aug. 9.

"The funny thing is, we're not your typical kayakers," said the 6-foot-4-inch Tanner. "We both have tattoos and we just don't look like the average kayaker."

Tanner may not look the part but he has been kayaking for 14 years, mostly in lakes and bays. Sparks is brand new to the sport and just took it up last year so he could be part of this memorial trip. The two have attended several safety classes, and have been training in the ocean nearly every weekend. Tanner said he feels prepared for the physical test he's about to face but admits he wasn't too happy to hear about the recent shark attack off the coast of San Diego; he and Sparks were kayaking just 17miles north of where the attack happened that day in April.

"We talk a lot about Miah and how crazy he would think we are for doing this," said Tanner on how they deal with all the quiet time on and off the water during training. "He wouldn't want us to make a fuss about him but I think he'd smile about it all."

Tanner said he and Johnson were virtually inseparable for the last 8 years. They shared May 8 as their birthday and often joked about being twins.

"He was at my house at least five days a week," Tanner said. "He was ‘Uncle Miah' to my kids, and most people in town thought we were brothers."

An active outdoorsman, Johnson was into fishing and a member of the local Gear Grinders Four-Wheel Drive Club but had only been kayaking with Tanner one time. While bed-ridden in the hospital, Johnson often talked about going kayaking when he got better.

"One of Miah's last thoughts was that he was going to be able to go kayaking as soon as he felt better but he never got a chance to do that," said Tanner, who was by Johnson's side as he passed. "Coordinating this kayak trip is our way of coping with our loss. It's our memory and love for Miah that is driving us to help others and make a difference."

For more information and to donate to the Vasculitis Foundation, go online to http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/rogueotters. Tanner plans to take photos during the trip and have them uploaded to the Web site along the way. They will be using the SPOT satellite messenger system, which will let them send for help should an emergency arise. The SPOT system will also allow family and friends with internet access to visually track their location as they make their way down the coast.

Tanner and Sparks plan to do something every year to keep Johnson's memory alive, and to continue to help raise money for Wegener's granulomatosis research.

"Early detection could have saved Miah's life so it's important to us to raise as much money as we can for research," Tanner said.

To help support Tanner and Sparks, contact Mary Grimsley at 760-446-3458 or maranjer@verizon.net.

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