For Immediate Release
Oregon International Sled Dog Race Inc. announce
“Rachael’s Race for Vision Foundation”

The sled dog race formerly known as the Atta Boy 300 World Cup Sled Dog Race, will undergo a name and format change for the 2006 season. The Oregon International Sled Dog Race Inc. will be hosting a formal 300-mile training run scheduled January 4-7, 2006. A formal four day training event will change from the stage-stop format and start at Mt. Bachelor’s Sunrise Lodge on Wednesday, January 4th, following a continuous run over the 300-miles of trail in the High Cascades looping back to Mt. Bachelor and finishing on Saturday, January 7th. The continuous race format is modeled after the Iditarod. The dogs and mushers will race around the clock with rest stops taken out on the trail, and camping out with the dogs every night with the clock continuously running.

After four years of offering the World Cup Stage-Stop Race and hosting the World Championships in January of 2005, the 300 Mile Stage-Stop Race is proactively seeking a new title Sponsor and tax exempt 501-C3 status for it’s January 2007 scheduled race. In the interim, the 300-mile training run will be held to provide a world-class training venue for athletes running the Alaskan Iditarod, as well as, providing the format to continue Rachael’s Vision Foundation and the Quest for Knowledge School Curriculum Programs written by volunteer Becki Timson and promoted annually by the race. The race committee made up of Volunteers from around Central Oregon is deeply grateful to American Nutrition the makers of ATTA BOY Dog Food for their sponsorship for the past four years.

The 300-mile training run features Central Oregon’s own World-Class Musher, Local Hero and Inspiration, Rachael Scdoris. The race committee decided to name the new one year interim event in her honor “Rachael’s Race for Vision”. When faced with the option of not having the Race for one year, Rachael and the Race Organizers chose to continue to run during the same time-frame of the former race and pledge 100% of sponsor’s net-proceeds to go directly to assisting local Oregonians with Vision Screening and Vision Aids. Rachael’s Vision Foundation has garnered over $100,000 donated in Vision Screening and Aids for local Oregonians with vision needs. In 2007 the race will move forward, known as the "RACE FOR VISION".

It’s an amazing gift to give to others with vision needs, in light of the fact that Rachael is legally blind with a vision disorder that cannot be corrected. Rachael, born with a rare disease called congenital achromtopsia, causing nearsightedness, farsightedness and color blindness, is an inspiration to 10's of thousands and will be returning to compete in the 2006 Alaskan Iditarod with the aid of a visual interpreter. Rachael’s blindness will not stop her from reaching her dreams. “Rachael’s Race for Vision” will highlight the fact that adversity again will be met with determination and reward.

For further information about 2006 event “Rachael’s Race for Vision” or to support “Rachael’s Vision Foundation”, please contact Roxia Thornton Todoroff @ 541-504-0741.