WELCOME! My name is Philip Hofstetter. Please help me fight leukemia for my friend, Nora (Ivanoff) Nagaruk, by supporting my next venture of racing in the Alaska Ultrasport 1,100 mile bike race from Anchorage to Nome. This is the longest human powered winter race and follows the historic Iditarod trail across Alaska. The race begins Feb. 24th 2008.
Those of you new to the website I raised over $13,000 upon completing "Rowing for Roro" the 1000 mile epic kayak to Barrow, Alaska from Nome. Click here to see wonderful pictures of that grueling adventure.During that time Nora received a stem cell transplant and has battled her way to Leukemia free!
This venture was not only to help raise money for the fight against leukemia but also to provide awareness and support for Nora Nagaruk and her family. This fight against leukemia is not new to her and her husband Nathan. Nora's father died from leukemia in 1979. Nathan's nephew died from leukemia in 2000. All three were diagnosed with AML. Nora hopes for a different ending to her own story of leukemia.
Nora grew up in the rural Alaskan village of Unalakleet located in the Norton Sound region, where she was given the nickname Ro-Ro. Nora wished to bring back something to the Norton Sound region by serving as a physician in her community. She finished medical school at the University of Washington and was completing her residency when she was diagnosed with leukemia in July 2004. She is now a physician at Norton Sound Health Hospital in Nome! Nora is the ultimate role model for the people in Norton Sound not only for her achievements but also for her positive attitude and outlook at a time when life creates such enormous obstacles. She is a leader and strong advocate for children with leukemia- the same disease that took the life of her husband's nephew and also afflicts Cheyenne Johnson, the child of a high school friend. Nora is determined to fight leukemia, and she provides me the inspiration to help in this cause.
I would like to also recognize the following people/companies who helped sponsor and get ready for this years trip:
1) GCI
2) MooseJaw for gear. www.moosejaw.com
3) Paul Ivanoff III as my PR coordinator.
4) Sarah C Hanson and Hahnah for their support and lovewww.sarahchanson.com
5) Pete Basinger for his generous nature and information.
Additional Past Sponsors from Rowing for RoRo (2005-2006): Northern Air Cargo, Frontier Airlines, WinTechRacing and Jill Fredston.
Funds raised support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's mission to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.
The Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services.
To learn more about The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, please visit the Washington/Alaska Chapter online. | 
