Team J Dot Iditarod

Hi, I'm J. And I love dogs.

So close I can feel it. Want to thank all you for being a part of team Jdot. This is going to be my last winter and then I'll be qualified and headed to the Iditarod.  I can't believe how far we've come and how much support I've received! I'm extremely grateful and couldn't do it without all the support. Every little bit helps and I can't wait to see the finish line!!!

 Coming from Cottageville, South Carolina, I had never even heard of dog mushing. I was fortuitously invited to Alaska for a summer and never looked back. After a couple years of running horse tours in Skagway for Alaska Excursions, I injured my knee and could no longer ride horses. Hence, leading me to the opportunity to work.....in the dog yard (business is picking up - wink, wink)...after learning more about the sport of dog mushing and what it entails, my interest peaked and has never died down.

In 2012, I spent my first winter dog handling in Knik, Alaska for Ryan and Erin Redington. To my surprise, I had the opportunity to compete in two races and I did fairly well. I spent the rest of the winter raising and training puppies. Since then, I have routinely run small dog teams recreationally. It is an all-consuming passion that continues to grow. My goal is to run the Iditarod at least once in my life and I look forward to assembling my first Iditarod team for the 2019 race.
Professional mushers that I've trained with, including the Redington's, have been very encouraging and convinced me that I can accomplish my goal.

At this point, running the dogs in the easy part. Funding my Iditarod journey is the challenge. Other than the $3000 it takes just to enter the race, many of the items necessary to compete really add up! For example, dog booties that protect the puppy paws throughout the race can cost up to $2 a piece and it is not uncommon to use 2000 booties or more during a long distance race such as the Iditarod. Being the athletes these Alaskan Husky sled dogs are, they burn 8,000-10,000 calories a day which requires loads of special high protein kibble and raw meat, which obviously adds up. Have you ever fed a pack of teenage boys??

Since this is my first Iditarod, I am starting from scratch --  I need: more dogs, harnesses, another sled, necklines, tuglines, transportation, entry fee money for qualifying races and the Iditarod, etc. etc.

In order to qualify, I will need to assemble my dog team and necessary equipment by Fall 2016 so I can compete during the winters of 2016-2018 to be eligible for the 2019 Iditarod.

With your support, I am positive I will reach my goal and achieve my dream of running the 2019 Iditarod. No donation, big or small, will go unnoticed. It is not possible for me to do this without you.

From the sincerest part of my dog mushing heart and on behalf of teamjdot and my furry teammates, we are honored by your support and forever grateful.