SKIING BROTHERS TO HIT CAPE THURSDAY

A pair of Australian brothers attempting to ski the Mississippi River hope to set a new record for their feat. The brothers will be in Cape Girardeau for a snack break about 8:40 a.m. Thursday.

Brenton and Sean McGrath began skiing the 1,800 miles of the Mississippi River Monday in an attempt to raise money and awareness for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society of America. Brenton McGrath had a bout with leukemia and is now in remission.

The Mississippi Challenge trip began Monday in Minnesota and should end Saturday at the Gulf of Mexico.

"Things have been going wonderfully," said Paul Ryan a spokesman for the challenge. "Every lockmaster is giving us priority -- and they have no obligation to -- and all the towboats are helping out in any way they can, which is amazing."

Attention has "been snowballing" since the pair began their trek, Ryan said. News media all across the country have called for interviews, including national outlets like CBS and CNN.

The brothers already hold a record for skiing the Murray River, a 1,300-mile-long river in Australia. That trip took them 26 hours. A friend, Neville Wilson, accompanied them on that trip.

The McGraths had planned on Wilson accompanying them on this trip, but he died of stomach cancer in January. His ashes will be scattered at the beginning and end of their journey to symbolize he is still with them, Ryan said.

The brothers travel side-by-side at an average speed of 50 mph. They are pulled by two 28-foot boats that rotate every two hours. Stops are planned for snacks, massages and refueling. The skiers also are equipped with gear designed to retain body fluids and wet suits that prevent dehydration.

A crew of about 30 -- including family members, paramedics, navigators and press contacts -- travels daily with the McGraths. Updates are received from the team and then recorded for a hotline at (952) 876-6626. The hotline is updated each evening after the pair stop skiing.

The brothers had thought about skiing the Nile or Amazon rivers, but the logistics of traveling through several countries was complicated, Ryan said. The Mississippi River provided their "next logical challenge."

Initially, Brenton McGrath's doctors were worried about his health and such a grueling trip. His cancer went into remission in 1993, but the physical strain of the journey could cause a relapse. "But I'm in the best physical condition I've been in my life right now," he said.

The ski trip should "raise awareness and let people know that you can beat cancer and live a productive life and set your mark somewhere," Ryan said.

The brothers also hope to raise $25,000 for the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society on their trip. Donations can be sent to: Challenge Charity Trust; 6626 Rustic Road; Prior Lake, Minn. 55372.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.