Help bring a class of young students from Nairobi, Kenya to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience the 2026 Iditarod!
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Meet Martha’s Class —a group of students at the Sheba Education Center in Nairobi, Kenya.
These children have dreamed of experiencing Alaska’s legendary Iditarod. From 2021 to 2025, they exchanged letters with pen pals in Anchorage and Homer, learning about the epic sled dog race that crosses Alaska’s wild terrain. In 2024, their connection to the race grew deeper as they sent handwritten notes of encouragement to mushers along the trail, including champion Dallas Seavey and others, who carried these messages to the finish line.
Inspired by this experience, the kids set their hearts on attending the 2026 Iditarod in person. Though they knew funding such a trip would be difficult, they wanted it badly enough to go all in! They even built their own sled, the first Kenyan-made Iditarod sled!
Their determination inspired Brad Schmitz, co-founder of Alaska English Adventures, to help them realize this dream. Brad reached out to mushers and businesses across Alaska, and soon, Alaskan communities rallied around the cause, offering meals, lodging, and other resources to make this journey possible. Now, all that stands in the way are the costs of passports and airfare.
With your support, these kids can bring their sled, stories, and culture to Alaska. They’re thrilled to share traditional Swahili dances and stories of Kenya -as well as a part of themselves through the world-renowned Masaai Tribe bracelets- and see firsthand the race they’ve only heard about. Your donation can make this cultural exchange unforgettable, connecting two worlds through friendship, determination, and the spirit of adventure.
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