Working toward the Kobuk440

Jessi and the dogs from Aimaagvik Kennel are making a run at qualifying for Iditarod.  The team is signed up for the Knik 200 and Willow 300 this winter.  The Kobuk440 has been a dream of Jessi’s over the past few years, but since she began a summer job at Port Site up near Noatak and Kivalina she has received encouragement to “come home” and run the 440.  Her team is young and strong and ready to run.  The Kobuk440 is a 440 mile run through many villages of the Northwest Arctic Borough.  The team would love to come up to the region and share their story with the kids around the region during the race.  Jessi was born and spent the first 3 years of her life in Noatak, Alaska.  She has been rediscovering Iñupiaq heritage and brings a her story of hard work and responsibility while living a drug and alcohol free lifestyle and a focus on being a strong young female role model with the drive to qualify for a long distance race   Her relationship with her team inspired her choices to make the positive decisions that have helped her get to this point in her life. But travel to Kotzebue, flying the team, feeding the team and all the additional expenses that come along with a race that isn’t in your own backyard are staggering. Earlier this year the kennel attempted to secure some corporate sponsorship to help defray the costs of this trip, but alas, no response has been had so we are reaching out to you.  Any little bit helps the team get one mile closer to Kotzebue and the start of the Kobuk440 on the 2nd of April.   Fee free to reach out to the kennel for any additional information!  We would love to hear from you!