HUMAN
Name: Denise Sixsmith
Age: 49
Residence: Houston, Texas
Occupation: Veterinarian and a mom of three
Years involved with Iditarod: This is my first year
Iditarod Role: I am a handler, this morning I’m helping with volunteers, tomorrow I’m helping with merchandising, and then I’m going to be crew at Shaktoolik.
Current Location: Anchorage, Alaska
Date of Photo: March 4, 2023
Temperature: 4 degrees
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?
I first became involved with Iditarod this year, but it’s always been a bucket list thing for me since I was five and because I’m turning 50 this year I filled out the volunteer application and they said, “Sure, come help.” So here I am.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I am here today and involved with Iditarod because I wanted to prove to myself that I could do something big and adventurous and brave and turning 50 this year, I earned it to come out and be strong, and I’ve gotten stronger than I have been in decades. And I have an eight-year-old daughter named Sophie that I want to show her that she can be big and brave and do great things and explore life.
Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences:
One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences so far was just walking up and down the street and seeing all of these dogs and all of these athletes and the people I’ve just read about, and being in a place that I’ve just read about and imagined, and it’s beyond words.
What in life do you know for sure?
What I know for sure in life is you get what you give. So give everything you can, whenever you can. Take every opportunity, enjoy it all, take it all in, and have an awesome time.