January marks the 25th Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. While the Beargrease struggled financially for a short time, it is now running in the black, and even though last year’s race was canceled because of no snow, by this fall the race was full with musher entries from all around the world--one of many indicators that dog sled racing continues to be popular sport.

The sport’s popularity extends beyond traditional competitive racing, though. A group called Promoting Abilities with Sleddogs (P.A.W.S.) is working with the Special Olympics in Minnesota to ensure that everyone in the region has an opportunity to try dog sledding.

“We came together because we wanted to make sure that all sports are open to those with disabilities,” says Sally O’Sullivan Bair of P.A.W.S. “Any time you can open up a sport for people who are disabled, it is a good thing.”
The program began in 2005 as a partnership between sled dog sports and Special Olympics Minnesota to promote healthy living by providing experiences that enhance Special Olympics athletes’ appreciation of sled dog work and traditions.

In 2006, the organization partnered with the Beargrease. “It was a win-win for everyone involved,” Bair says. “It provided us great PR and media exposure, and the athletes got to be part of one of the top races in the country.”

Three Special Olympians got to race before the Beargrease officially started, thanks to time and  equipment donations from race mushers.

Blair says support from the musher community played a huge role in making P.A.W.S. possible. “We never could have pulled this off without their help,” she says.

Not only athletes benefit from the experience. “Sometimes we get caught up in the competitiveness of our sport,” mentor Joel Nelson says of the experience. “Getting back to the basics as a mentor brings me back to why I am in love with this sport.”

A Special Olympians’ awards ceremony was tied in to Beargrease opening ceremonies. “It was great because it really provided an opportunity for these kids to achieve recognition they might not otherwise get,” Bair says.

Last year’s lack of snow delayed the Beargrease and P.A.W.S. from partnering again, but as winter arrives in the Twin Ports, conversations are already underway to continue the work where it left off.

P.A.W.S is also in conversations with several other dog sled races in the region. P.A.W.S. organizers hope to provide a musher for for every Special Olympic athlete interested, and continue to raise awareness about ensuring athletic opportunities for all children.

Quantifying such a program’s success can be difficult, but Special Olympian Kayte Barton, who participated in the first P.A.W.S. race did her best to illustrate its value “We can show the world that saying, even though we may have a disability, we can do anything we set our minds to!”