I wrote this column in 2007 for The Phoenix,,,
The annual Iditarod dog-sled race has recently been going on in rugged Alaska. It is a grueling test of endurance, going 1,150 miles from Anchorage to Nome. It has been called "The Last Great Race on Earth."
Angelo Suriano was in a car accident in 1986 which left him paralyzed. The 43-year-old man from Stockholm, N.Y. was left a paraplegic from the crash, but has since regained some feeling and motion in his legs.
Several years ago he adopted a Siberian husky dog named Ivory. The dog used to help him with everyday tasks, such as pulling Angelo around in his wheelchair.
Then Angelo had an idea.
He moved from New Jersey to upstate New York to be closer to Clarkson University, which has been renowned in its rehabilitation advocacy for the disabled. Angelo acquired several more huskies, and decided to train to become the first disabled "musher" to run the famous Iditarod race.
Angelo needed a total of 16 dogs to run the race, and Clarkson U.m along with community support and sponsorships, helped Angelo with expenses and buying the gear ( especially fitting him with a special sled) that he would need for the race.
In return, Angelo helped the schools" physical therapy students learn about spinal cord injuries and how to motivate those who are disabled.
Clarkson U. has since continued its emphasis on rehabilitation engineering, meeting real-life challenges. Some of the projects which students have tackled have been building a wheelchair which will navigate along rough, wooded terrain; creating computer software which helps mentally disabled individuals with memory problems; and constructing a motorized scooter, especially for children with severe disabilities, to experience more independent mobility.
By the way, Angelo did compete in the Iditarod. He didn"t win, but he finished the race- which was far more important than winning first place.
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