 On March 1st 2008, Central Oregon's own Rachael Scdoris will cross the starting line of an over 1100 mile dog sled race and will face some of the most unforgiving race conditions known to man (or woman), including temperatures as low as -50 degrees.
The Iditarod can't be compared to any other competitive event in the world. Mushers and their dog teams traverse through jagged mountain ranges, frozen rivers, dense forest, desolate tundra and miles of windswept coast. From Anchorage, in south central Alaska, to Nome on the western Bering Sea coast, each team of 12 to 16 dogs and their musher cover over 1150 miles in 10 to 17 days. They also battle with temperatures far below zero, winds that can cause a complete loss of visibility, the hazards of overflow, long hours of darkness, and treacherous climbs and side hills.
At 15, Rachael became the youngest athlete to ever to complete a 500-mile sled dog race in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Now at 22, Rachael’s determination to truly realize her potential by finishing among the most elite racers, will compete in her 3rd Iditarod.
To make things even more challenging, on top of the 1,150 miles of extreme conditions, Rachael is legally blind. She was born with a rare vision disorder which causes severe near sightedness, far sightedness and colorblindness. After 12 days, 10 hours and 42 minutes on the trail, in March of 2006, Rachael made history as the first legally blind athlete in history to finish the Iditarod race.
Rachael, a role model for people with disabilities, is dedicated to supporting Central Oregon Resources for Independent Living (CORIL) to help other Central Oregonians with disabilities pursue their dreams.
We encourage those who are interested in supporting those with disabilities to pledge what they are able -- as little as one cent for every mile of the race. You may follow the race by visiting Scdoris’s website, GoRachaelGo.com and hear exclusive updates with Rachael throughout the race on ABC affiliate KOHD. All donations will benefit CORIL and their pursuit to empower all people with disabilities to develop their full capabilities and potential.
The Pledge-a-thon has a goal of $150,000 and is sponsored by the Bend Chamber, Central Oregon Builders Association, EDCO, KOHD News, MIX 100.7, and Young at Heart. For further information, email Jim Lee, Executive Director of CORIL, or call 541-388-8103.
Also, come join the fun at our kickoff party for Rachael at JC's Bar and Grill (downtown Bend at 642 NW Franklin Ave) on Saturday, March 1st from 3pm to 7pm. Admission is free. |
