Willie Ekamrak, 39, has been mushing for 15 years. He started getting interested in running the Iditarod when he handled for Mike Williams in 1997. He has 70 dogs in his kennel and has run the Kusko several times. An Alaska Native, he studied business at Alaska Pacific University and is now self employed. He is married to Iva and they have four children, Darrin 11, Dominick, 9, Terrance, 6 and Shannon, 2. Willie says his hobbies and interests are hunting, fishing and mushing. He says he is running the Iditarod this year for the experience. He is the first recipient of the Leonhard Seppala Heritage Grant, proved by Seppala’s granddaughter. Maya Ramsey