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I believe you all know since my blogster blog, as well as this one how I feel about the Iditarod. This painting is my most recent oil painting and is of Lance Mackey 2007-2008 Iditarod Champion on the Iditarod Trail. I used his #13 bib, which he wore when he won the 2007 Iditarod, his first championship.
Lance is married to his high school sweetheart, Tonya, who is also a musher. They have four children, Amanda, Brittney, Alanah & Cane.
Lance was diagnosed with throat cancer after the 2001 Iditarod Sled Dog race and underwent extensive surgery as well as radiation treatment. He is now considered cancer-free, however, Mackey suffered nerve damage in his left index finger as a result of the operation to remove the cancerous tumor. The nerve damage caused such unbearable pain in the finger that Mackey chose to have the finger surgically removed.
Lance's father, Dick Mackey was one of the founders of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race which was officially organized in 1973. He won the race by 1 second. His oldest brother, Rick Mackey, was the winner of the 1983 Iditarod.
Lance Mackey won the Yukon Quest in 2005, 2006, 2007 & 2008. In March of 2007, Lance became the third Mackey to become an Iditarod Champion. This was a life long dream. He went on to win the 2008 Iditarod, which put him in the record books as the ONLY musher to EVER win both thousand mile races back to back and I did it twice.
Congratulations Lance! I hope you win the 2009, as well, and I'll be rooting for you!
You can visit Lance's website at www.mackeyscomebackkennel.com or click on my links.
