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2016 is Mary's rookie Iditarod.
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Profile
Mary Helwig, 32, was born in Virginia. She says
she always loved and wanted to work with dogs, but
growing up in southern California, mushing never
crossed her mind. After her 2006 graduation from
North Park University in Chicago with a B.A. in
Psychology, she moved to Alaska to work for the
Christian non-profit organization, Covenant Youth
of Alaska (CYAK.org). She moved to Unalakleet to
work as a youth leader in the local church during
the winters and head cook at the Covenant Bible
Camp 10 miles upriver during the summers. She also
spent many weekends in the villages on the coast
from Unalaklet to Nome cooking for youth retreats
and working with the local youth. I had my
first experience on a sled during a short
womens dog sled race put on by the Norton
Sound Sled Dog Club. I was instantly hooked. After
moving from Unalakleet, I worked as a part time
handler for Jonrowe Racing Kennel to explore my
interest. In 2011, I moved back to Unalakleet to
work for Siku Kennel and 2010 Iditarod musher
William Middy Johnson. I ran my first
mid-distance race that season (the Portage 200) and
I knew I was all in. I formed my own team in 2013
and am thrilled to be running Iditarod with my own
dogs, seven of which I bred and raised myself. Even
though I lost my home and nearly all my belongings
in the Sockeye wildfire, I am determined to run my
first Iditarod in 2016. I am looking forward to
mushing home to Unalakleet and greeting
my friends from there to Nome. For the last
three years, Mary has worked as a Financial Analyst
and is now going to school studying to be a
veterinary technician. She says she enjoys
gardening, hiking and serving.
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