HUMAN

Name: CHERYL ZACHARY
Age: 67
Residence: WASILLA, ALASKA
Occupation: SURGICAL TECHNICIAN AT THE ALASKA NATIVE MEDICAL CENTER
Years involved with Iditarod: 24 YEARS
Iditarod Role: OH, MY GOODNESS! THAT’S A HARD ONE. I WORK IN THE OFFICE WITH JOANNE. I COORDINATE RACE HEADQUARTERS DURING THE RACE AT THE LAKEFRONT HOTEL. AND A WHOLE LOT OF STUFF IN BETWEEN. IT INVOLVES A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE HOTEL, FROM GETTING PEOPLE’S ROOMS SITUATED SO THEY HAVE A PLACE TO STAY WHEN THEY TRANSITION TO AND FROM THE RACE. I ALSO COORDINATE THE CALL CENTER. WE GET VOLUNTEERS. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE VOLUNTEERS FOR EVERY SHIFT TO MAN THE PHONES. AND ALL THE QUESTIONS MOSTLY COME THROUGH MY OFFICE THERE AT RACE HEADQUARTERS.
Current Location: AIRLAND TRANSPORT WAREHOUSE, ANCHORAGE
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Temperature: 60F / INDOORS

What is your Why?: 

WELL, THE LOVE OF THE RACE. GOSH! I DON’T KNOW. IT’S LIKE A BIG FAMILY REUNION WHEN YOU COME BACK EVERY YEAR. SO YOU GET TO SEE THE PEOPLE YEAR AFTER YEAR. IT’S JUST A WONDERFUL THING TO DO. And why are you here today? WE’RE DOING THE FOOD DROP TODAY.  WE JUST GET THAT FOOD OUT FOR ALL THE PEOPLE SO THEY HAVE SOMETHING TO EAT WHILE THEY’RE ON THE TRAIL.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I GUESS EVERY YEAR HAS BEEN REWARDING.  WORKING WITH THE VOLUNTEERS, WORKING WITH THE MUSHERS AND HOW THEY THANK YOU FOR BEING ABLE TO HELP.  AND THE MUSHERS THANKING YOU FOR HELPING TO GET THEM DOWN THE TRAIL.  IT ALL COMES TOGETHER.  WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE AT THE HOTEL, WHO ENJOY IT SO MUCH.  SO THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS.  AND EVERY YEAR IS REWARDING.  IT’S BEEN 24 YEARS NOW AND EVERY ONE’S BEEN REWARDING.

What do you know for sure?

OH, GOSH! NOT A DARN THING. A LOT OF THINGS, LIKE, THE LOVE OF MY FAMILY: MY HUSBAND, MY KIDS, MY GRANDKIDS; THE LOVE OF THE RACE. I KNOW ALL THOSE THINGS FOR SURE. NOTHING’S GUARANTEED IN LIFE, BUT I KNOW I’M HERE FOR SURE TODAY. AND ALL THE PAST IDITARODS HAVE BEEN FOR SURE, SO…