Debbie Moderw - 2007 Musher

DEBBIE WITH SYDNETY & JULIET

The Moderow’s Salty Dog Kennel was founded in 1990, when a retired Iditarod husky named Salt walked through the family’s front door. Salt’s zeal for the long distance trail has inspired the family ever since, and he has been the instigator of countless Moderow escapades. Debbie will run the Serum Run 2007 with her original white leader clearly in mind.

The Moderow’s kennel has always been a family affair, and Debbie is thrilled to be joining husband Mark and daughter Hannah on the 2007 Serum Run. Having run the 2003 and 2005 Iditarods (finishing in 2005), she is looking forward to spending time in the villages along the way to Nome, and interacting with the people who live along the historical route.

Debbie’s Serum Run dogs are a mixture of Iditarod veterans and young dogs bred and raised at the Moderow kennel. It is particularly exciting to be working with treasured dogs that brought her under the arch in Nome, while watching them share their wisdom of long distance travel with the younger generation. The team dynamic has long been the focus of Debbie’s passion, and the Serum Run promises to be a dream expedition.

Aside from centering her life around her 39 dogs, Debbie works for Innisbrook Wraps providing quality fundraising programs for Alaskan schools. She is presently writing a memoir inspired by her mushing escapades. Alaska has been Debbie’s home since 1979, when she met her husband Mark on a mountain climbing expedition in the Alaska Range. They have two children, Andy and Hannah, both recent graduates from Cornell University. The family splits their time between Anchorage and Denali Park.