Challenge doesn’t get mush tougher
Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date published: 24 January 2011
Melanie’s gruelling 300-mile husky race
A DARING Oldhamer is harnessing her huskies as she gets set to take on a gruelling race in Norway.
Melanie Clegg, a former pupil at Hulme Grammar School, is the only British woman taking part in the 300-mile Finnmark race on March 12, and she’s doing it to raise money for the Christie Hospital.
The 39-year-old was posted to Norway with the RAF in 2002 and loved the country so much she decided to stay. She is now the parish organist in Vadso in the far North-East of the country. Melanie races with eight Alaskan huskies and will aim to complete five races this season of various lengths and distances.
With more than 1,000 miles of training with the dogs under her belt, this year’s Finnmark will be the third year in a row Melanie has taken part.
She said: “The race season on snow runs from December until mid-April. The Finnmark in March is a race I’ve started and completed twice, being the only British woman to do so, I believe.
“The 300-mile race takes about two-and-a-half days and it’s not just a case of standing on the back of the sled watching the scenery.
“My dogs and I are together as one. I help the dogs as much as possible with the movement of the sled, and I organise their rest and eating to allow for maximum use of their fantastic energy resources.
“The races are extremely gruelling — you’re taking part in driving snow in the dark. The weather can be as cold as minus 35C and you have to work very hard with the sled and eight dogs.
“But it’s the determination and will to tackle something, which made me think of people fighting cancer.”
To sponsor Melanie visit www.justgiving.com/prospectchristie or for more details about the race season visit her website www.prospecthuskies.com
