HUMAN
Name: Mary Lammers
Age: 62
Residence: Eagle River, Alaska
Occupation: I’m retired from being a fisheries biologist and a kindergarten TA and an admin for the Anchorage School District.
Years involved with Iditarod: This would be my very first year volunteering for Iditarod.
Iditarod Role: My role is a volunteer
Current Location: Iditarod Headquarters, Wasilla, AK
Date of Photo: March 1, 2023
Temperature: 15-17 degrees
What, who or how and when did you first get involved with the Iditarod?
I first became involved with Iditarod probably when I was 11 or 12, when Iditarod used to go from Anchorage to Eagle River, and my parents would take us down so that we could be on the trails watching the dogs go by.
What is your Why? Why are you here TODAY and involved with the Iditarod?
I’m here today and involved with Iditarod today because I have a neighbor, Janet, who is all about the Iditarod. And since she moved up here probably 15 years ago, she’s been so involved. And today, or last night, she called in a panic needing volunteers, and I was available, so I came.
Tell me about just one of your most memorable Iditarod experiences:
One of my most memorable experiences was probably watching the dogs as a child and just being outside on the trail and watching them go by. And then, today will probably be the most wonderful experience I’ve had, meeting mushers and their dogs and seeing just how excited the dogs are to be here and getting their vet checks. It’s a pretty amazing program.
What in life do you know for sure?
What I know for sure in life is that adversity builds character, and from every adversity building experience you gain, you gain so much in life just being alive.