HUMAN

Name: Dana Robertson

Age: 55

Residence: Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Occupation: Right now, I am working in a chiropractor’s office

Years involved with Iditarod: I’ve been involved with the Iditarod officially this year, it’s my first year to the Iditarod in volunteering. But I’ve been lurking in the background for decades.

Iditarod Role: My role, oh my goodness. I’m volunteering. So I’ve been with the Volunteer Center, I’ve been with the Communication Center. At the moment, I’m with the Parking with Security. I will be dog handling. And ,if I make it in time trail, guard. so I’m all over the place.

Current Location: Ceremonial Race Start, 4th Ave, Downtown Anchorage, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 5, 2022

Temperature: 32 F Outdoors Dumping Snow

What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?

I first became involved with the Iditarod when I was a child watching ABC Sports down in the basement. And my eyes, and my heart, and my soul opened up wide watching these dogs and mushers in this far away place. And, it just inspired me with dogs and mushing, and I was able to come to lurking behind the scenes, thanks to computers. And then I became involved a little bit deeper, and answering questions, and being involved with mushers, and sponsoring. And I’m just, the Iditarod is the best thing. Awesome.

What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?

I am here today and involved with the Iditarod because it’s the 50th. If I was going to come up for the very first time, and possibly, I hope not the only time, this was the year to come in. To volunteer, to be part of it all, to see the mushers I’ve met before. Meet everybody I’ve talked to you online. It’s such a big, wonderful family.

Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences.

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences actually was lurking in the background, watching the tracker, being an insider, and it was the year Larry Daugherty and the boys got lost. We yelled, we screamed, we didn’t know what to do as these three mushers were going the wrong way. And the chat lit up. And being involved in the chat group and the people on there, cheering, yelling, screaming, and just getting hopefully the positive vibes out to them. And they turned around, they got back on the trail, and everybody cheered, and yelled and screamed. And it was such a wonderful moment.

What do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is the love of my dogs. They love me unconditionally. I love them unconditionally. Without a dog in my life, I don’t know where I’d be.