Alaska, the beautiful

I just got back from Alaska a couple of days ago still recovering from sleep deprivation, exhaustion as well as the excitement of the trip.

Sadler's Ultra Challenge is the world's longest wheelchair and handcycle race over 267 miles from Fairbanks to Anchorage.
This year there were 26 racers: 21 of them were handcyclers in three different divisions and 5 of them wheelchair racers including James Lilly. The whole community of about 100 people including the racers, race organizing staff and myriads of volunteers traveled together along the race over the 6-day period. Volunteers come from all over the country and the world. Most are young adventurous souls there for an experience, but we also had a group of professionals who donated their time to be a part of this incredible event: They were the EMTs, massage therapist, chefs and the "Goldwingers"(four motorcyclists who chaperoned the race to make sure racers and the pilot cars are safe along the course)! Oh, I must not forget the community support we were blessed with in each town we stayed where the locals provided lodging and dinners. By the time the race is over, it is a whole big family. Anybody who has participated in the race can attest it.

With my documentary finished and having a world premiere public screening, it was a bit of a sentimental journey for me. In 1999 I had gone there as a volunteer for Sadler's Ultra Challenge with a small Hi-8 camera looking for a story. Eight years later I was back again as a volunteer cheering for James, who became an integral part of my life since then, and other racers reminiscing these years of my own struggles to get this film done. Just like those racers who persevere over the 6-day race, I had to climb a lot of mountains to get to the finish line. So to see my movie projected on a big screen in front of a couple hundred audience was a feat. I admit I couldn't stop my tears...

After all it was so perfect I had the world premiere in Alaska as this was where all began.
Alaska will always have a very special meaning to me for the rest of my life for being where one of my dreams came true, and its breathtaking beauty is a bonus.