For many Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race mushers, reaching the Burled Arch in Nome after a 1,000-mile trip of adventure and self-discovery is enough -- but not for Rick Casillo.
“Yes I race dogs, I race the Iditarod,” Casillo says. “And it’s absolutely a passion and what I’m all about, but this is my true mission and I’m going to do this as long as I possibly can.”
The mission is Battle Dawgs, a non-profit effort that offers veterans a different version of self-reflection. Casillo and his wife Jen started Battle Dawgs five years ago.
“It’s like the light goes on when they’re up here. Alaska is an amazing place. It’s changed a lot of lives, a lot of musher’s lives,” said Casillo. “Everyone that comes up here is in awe of the state, when you bring these guys up here it really shows them that the world is a massive place: 'What am I doing sitting on the couch feeling sorry for myself? There’s so much more to see.'”
The program has helped veterans like Anthony Norris who now sits on the board of directors. Norris was wounded by an IED in Afghanistan. He’s been with Battle Dawgs since the start, participating in a warrior Iditarod camp.
“It was life changing you know. Just being in Alaska is life changing, “ Norris said. “And when you get to be part of Iditarod, working the dogs and helping someone race, you’re part of a team again. It gives you a new mission, a new purpose that a lot of guys don’t have anymore."
Casillo says this summer’s camp is being used to build for the future.
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