HUMAN

Name: Jessica Panko

Age: 52

Residence: North Pole, Alaska

Occupation: Radiologist

Years involved with Iditarod: 1

Iditarod Roles: Volunteer/Trail Crew

Current Location: McGrath, Alaska

Date of Photo: March 8, 2022

Temperature: 25 F Outdoors 

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

I first became involved with Iditarod just this year because my best friend from high school and her husband wanted to do a community volunteering event with me and my husband.

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

I’m here today, and I’m involved with Iditarod because I live in Alaska, and this is an iconic event. And it is such a privilege to be able to be involved with these athletes, both the canine athletes and the human athletes. 

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

One of my most memorable Iditarod experiences was to show up in McGrath. I have been so impressed at how everyone works together as a team, pitches in with whatever skills they have. Everybody’s really friendly at getting to know each other. It really is all about the community and the mushers and making a really great checkpoint. 

What in life do you know for sure?

What I know for sure in life is how valuable your friends are and how precious the moments are that we have with them.