Woman’s Trek by Dog Sled to Fight Cancer

With a yell to her sled dog team, Wendy Smith began a 6,000-mile cross-continent journey Saturday hoping to inspire people fighting cancer with a tale of survival.

Smith, who recovered from Hodgkin’s lymphoma, plans to arrive at the Bering Sea near Nome, Alaska, in mid-April, raising money along the way for cancer programs in North America and her native Britain.

“To me the whole point is to make a contribution,” said Smith, 36, adding that she wants to show “people who have cancer now that there can be a light at the end of the tunnel.”

A small crowd watched as the dogs’ paws were dipped in the Atlantic Ocean. From Searsport, Smith and her support team headed north to Quebec. They will cross Canada to Alaska, following logging roads and dog-sled trails for most of their route. In good snow conditions, they can travel 100 miles a day. The dogs will pull a wheeled cart in areas without enough snow.

Smith, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 26 while in the British army, said during her own recovery that she was inspired by reading about people who had survived and gone on to accomplish athletic feats.

After leaving the army, Smith hired out as a tour leader for a company that offers worldwide adventure treks. She became interested in sled-dog racing five years ago and has spent her winters training in Alaska.

“I’ve led a varied career, and it’s amazing, but I feel like everything I’ve done has trained me for this,” Smith said with laugh. “It’s the only thing I’m qualified to do.”

Smith received donated dogs and equipment from sled-dog racers in Alaska and Maine.

Smith’s team will post reports on the journey on their Internet site, www.dogtrek97-98.eu.inter.net. The Web site can also be used by people wanting to make donations to several anti-cancer charities.