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MARCH 16, 2009:
KURT FORCED TO STOP RACE
Kurt has been forced to stop the race. I haven't been in contact, but from other concerned friends, we have some details. Early on in the race, an accident happened with another racer possibly getting their dogs entangled and some possible injuries. THe Gazette here in Colorado Springs wrote the following article. Out hearts go out to Kurt who did all he could and for a rookie, was doing quite well up through around 400 miles. Here is the article from the Gazette...
"Local racer drops out of Iditarod |
March 16, 2009 - 11:56 AM
DAVE PHILIPPS |
THE GAZETTE
Teller County resident Kurt Reich dropped out of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on Sunday after covering nearly 450 miles.The rookie musher started with 67 teams in Anchorage on a 1,150-mile race through the Alaskan bush to Nome. He stopped Sunday near the half-way point at Ophir. Reich was the southern-most competitor and the fourth musher to drop out. Race records show he had a growing number of injured dogs. By the time he dropped out, he was racing with 12 of 16 possible dogs."
MARCH 10, 2009:
PICTURES OF KURT AND THE STARTING LINE AT WILLOW, ALASKA
Ami & Justin Shafran took some great pictures of the restart in Willow showing Kurt geared up and ready to go. Selected pictures are below but you can view all the images from their Facebook account HERE.
MARCH 7, 2009 (UPDATED):
ARKANSAS SCHOOL RAISES OVER $3,000
With the help of teacher Paula Medlin, the Gardener-Strong Elementary School in Strong, Arkansas has adopted Kurt and his cause to raise donations. Her energy and drive brings inspiration to a great cause. Read the article here
MARCH 4, 2009:
4 DAYS TO RACE TIME - UPDATE AND PICTURES
Had a phone call with Kurt and he is ready to race! It has been a long journey to get this far and the race is just days away now. Kurt's friend John sent in these pictures and message of their trip from Montana to Alaska, "It was quite a trip to Alaska! About 1200 miles of "Ice road trucking'. I have included some pictures of the trip for you to see. All is good, Kurt was able to put some miles on the dogs last week and he has a few days this week for some more runs. The dogs were ready to run after a long journey to Alaska! John Akerberg, Second Shift Dog Handler."
FEBRUARY 17, 2009:
FEATURE ARTICLE AND KURT MAKES FRONT COVER ON THE MOUNTAIN JACKPOT
FEBRUARY 17, 2009:
RACE TO THE SKY: KURT TESTS OUT HIS TEAM
Kurt ran his team through a number of legs to test out which dogs will be able to do the complete Iditarod. His goal was simply that, one last chance to find that right mixture of power and endurance for the long haul.
FEBRUARY 14, 2009:
FEATURE ARTICLE ON KURT ADVENTURE IN COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
JANUARY 21, 2009:
KOAA IN COLORADO SPRINGS REPORTS ON KURT'S ADVENTURE
JANUARY 21, 2009:
MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN IS GOING TO THE DOGS
(COURTESY Memorial Health System MPulse newsletter): Kurt Reich, an Iditarod Sled Dog race qualifier from Divide, and lead sled dog “Arctic,” made an appearance at Memorial Hospital for Children on
Wednesday. The kids had a chance to meet the amazing Siberian husky and
listen to Reich’s dog sledding adventures. Arctic brought smiles to many faces
as she toured the pediatrics area and PICU. She gave each child a dog bootie -
the same kind sled dogs wear to protect their feet from snow and ice during a
race.
Reich and his 24 dogs will be competing in the 2009 Iditarod International
Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska on March 8. The race, known as the
“toughest race on earth,” is an 1,100-mile race that passes through five
climate zones. Reich is running the Iditarod to raise money for children’s
charities, including Memorial Hospital for Children. The race is held in
memory of the Great Serum Run of the early 1920s, when dog sleds shipped
life-saving serum to ill children in Nome, Alaska who were stricken with
deadly diphtheria. You can learn more at Reich’s website:
www.iditarodforcharities.org
JANUARY 19, 2009:
IDITAROD SLED DOG "ARCTIC: VISITS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
For Immediate Release: Kurt Reich, local Iditarod Sled Dog race qualifier, and lead sled dog “Arctic,” made an appearance at Memorial Hospital for Children (1400 E. Boulder St.) on Wed., Jan. 21. The kids had a chance to meet the amazing Siberian husky and listen to Reich share his dog sledding adventures. Arctic brought smiles to many faces, kids, parents and staff, as she toured the pediatrics area and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Arctic gave each child a unique dog bootie - the same ones that the sled dogs wear to protect their feet from the miles of snow and ice during the race.
Reich and his 24 dogs will be heading off to the 2009 Iditarod International Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska on March 8. The race, which is also known as the “toughest race on earth,” is an 1100 mile race that passes through five climate zones. Reich is running the Iditarod to raise money for children’s charities, including Memorial Hospital for Children. The race is held in memory of the Great Serum Run of the early 1920’s where dog sleds shipped life saving serum to the ill children in Nome affected by the deadly diphtheria epidemic. You can learn more at Reich’s website: www.iditarodforcharities.org. For more information, please contact Memorial Health System Public Relations at (719) 365-5235.
JANUARY 14, 2009:
FUNDRAISING DINNER AT THE ELK LODGE IN DIVIDE PLUS PRESENTATION
Hello Friends,
We have decided to change the location of the fundraising dinner for Iditarod for Charities this Friday. The new location will be at the Lodge at Elk Valley in Divide. Swiss Chalet will be catering the dinner at the Lodge at 7:00 p.m. Gary and Lois Sprague have agreed to pay for the dinner, so there will be no cost to you or your guests. Kurt will be presenting his vision for the Iditarod race, and those who attend the dinner will be given an opportunity to give a tax-deductible donation to Iditarod for Charities. Directions to the Lodge are attached.
Thank you so much for your support.
DIRECTIONS CLICK HERE
Gary Sprague /
Center for SPFM
P.O. Box 6020 /
Woodland Park, CO 80866
719-687-0515 (office) /
719-499-2751 (cell)
www.SamPeterFrankMary.com /
www.spfm.org
JANUARY 12, 2009:
FINISHED MICHIGAN RACE
Kurt Reich of Divide finished his last qualifier sled dog race (300 of a total 500 race miles required) in Michigan for the 2009 Iditarod International Sled Dog Race. Iditarod, know as The Last Great Race on Earth, is also being called the "toughest race on earth" as it covers 1100 miles from one end of Alaska, Anchorage, to the other, Nome and passes thru 5 climate zones. Only 71 mushers will compete in what is considered the Super Bowl of Dog Mushing starting on March 8, 2009.
Reich is running the Iditarod to raise money for charities, most of them children's in memory of the Great Serum Run of the early 1920's, which saved the children of Nome from a deadly Diphtherias Epidemic,where life saving serum was shipped in by the only transportation means possible (airplanes and snow mobiles wouldn't work then), dogs sleds. The charities are: Memorial Children's Hospital Foundation, Children's Ark, Compassion International, Arkansas
Children's Hospital, and the Single Parent Family Ministry. A fundraising diner is scheduled this Friday, January 23 at 7 P.M. in the Elk Lodge in Divide. Seating is limited so please RSVP to Kurt at 719 651-5916.
He will be heading to Montana to run The Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race starting on February 14 (300 miles) as a warm up on his way to Alaska. Reich has trained a total of 24 dogs for the 16 dog team necessary for the Iditarod. He is looking for sponsors for each of the 24 dogs at $1000.00/dog to offset the approximately $24,000.00 spent in expenses to cover just the Iditarod Race itself, including entry fees, travel costs, dog food, race drop bags for each check point (containing dog food, people food, supplies, and gear), shipping costs for the drop bags and over 2500 dog booties, etc. The race fees do not include all the expenses for creating the team itself (the dogs), qualifier race expenses to Michigan and Washington, the dog truck, dog box (kennel transportation), dog trailer, dog sleds, dog gear, artic winter gear, kennels, daily feeding, Vet. bills, etc. For more information regarding sponsorship please contact kurt at kurt_reich@msn.com or call Black Diamond Sled Dogs of Colorado at 719-651-5916.
To offset expenses while Reich put his 25 year Computer Engineering Career as an Executive/Engineer on hold, in order to raise his two children Robert, 14, and Lauren, 11, and train the dogs, he has been breeding and selling pure bred Siberians as pets. Please see Blackdiamondsleddogs.com for more information.
AUGUST 25, 2008:
KURT ADDED TO THE IDITAROD LINEUP AT WWW.IDITAROD.COM
Well, it's official, Kurt is #61 in the musher lineup. Visit www.iditarod.com to see a nice bio on their website.
AUGUST 18, 2008:
WWW.IDITARODFORCHARITIES.ORG GOES ONLINE
Our website is up and running! We will be continuously be adding news details but it's a start.
JULY 2008:
TEACHER AND CLASS FOLLOW IDITAROD RACE
Here is a wonderful
story out of Arkansas that shows how influential and potent the race is for those who get involved |
