HUMAN
Name: Roy Parker
Age: 64
Residence: Thomasville, Georgia
Occupation: Nurse
Years involved with Iditarod: This is my ninth year
Iditarod Role: I’m here with Graceworks, and we are security, trail guards, whatever needs to be done.
Current Location: Willow Community Center
Date of Photo: March 5, 2023
Temperature: -4
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?
I first became involved with the Iditarod through our church in Thomasville, and we do medical mission trips. And we couldn’t make it to Peru one year, and we decided to come to the Iditarod because our leader knew Scott Kirby. And I just loved it so much that I’ve been back nine times.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I’m here today and involved with the Iditarod because Graceworks is trying to reach people for Christ. And what better way can we do that than here with people from all over the world in Alaska?
Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences:
One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was running dogs for Aliy Zirkle about a year before she retired, and then coming to a musher meet-and-greet and banquet and seeing her and showing her a picture of the dogs I took, and actually the tail of one of the dogs, and she knew the dog by the tail.
What in life do you know for sure?
What I know for sure in this life is when I die, I’ll be going to heaven. But as far as being alive now, is as long as I can, I will come up here for the Iditarod.