As a former resident of Alaska, I keep close tabs this time of year on the progress of the Iditarod, a sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome, covering 1100 miles. Six days into the race, the leaders reached Cripple, Alaska today, the halfway point.
I cannot think of a Hawaii connection to justify this post, but there are insurance connections to the Iditarod. First, a major sponsor of the race is the largest independent insurance brokerage in Alaska, Alaska USA Insurance Brokers. Alaska USA also arranges insurance for the Iditarod operations throughout the year, including coverage for a fleet of 25 volunteer aircraft and the 2,000 who work the course.
Second, Standard Insurance Company, a subsidiary of StanCorp Financial Group, sponsors the Iditarod’s first blind participant, Rachael Scdoris from Oregon. Ms. Scdoris is the youngest musher to complete a 500-mile race and twice honored as one of the 100 Most Outstanding Female Athletes in the nation.
The current leader in the Iditarod is Dee Dee Jonrowe from Bethel, Alaska, my former hometown. Rachael Scdoris sits in 71st place, with a total of 93 mushers still competing in the race.
