Lauren Kiefer Harrington gives a presentation on Alzheimer’s at View
Lauren Kiefer Harrington and Linda Manzo, Adirondack Program Manager for the Alzheimer’s Association. Photos by Wende Carr
Old Forge resident Mike Mitchell, who recently followed the 1,150 mile Iditarod race by snowmobile, gave a powerpoint presentation to Anne Phinney’s fifth grade class at the Town of Webb school on Wednesday, March 20.
The students, who had previously chosen their own mushers to follow along the course of the legendary sled dog race, enjoyed the photos and stories Mitchell shared with them—some of which included their selected musher and dogs.
During the presentation, Mitchell talked about the culture and geography of Alaska and of the unforgettable experiences he had, including the opportunity to visit with well-known Iditarod mushers.
He also described a few challenges he faced including camping out in temperatures of twenty-five degrees below zero, and aiding in the transport of injured and sick dogs to safety along the way.
At the end of the presentation, Mitchell gave each of the students a sled dog booty as a souvenir.
“We enjoyed his presentation so much and could have watched for another couple of hours. In the beginning, Mike told the kids that these people were not special people—they were people who made a decision, made a commitment, and made sacrifices to reach this level of competition.
“I thought that was a profound message for 10-year-olds who have lots of big dreams, but assume they can’t achieve them. It applies to everything they do in life,” Phinney said.
