Blizzards, wildlife and temperatures that reach far below zero make the 1,161-mile Iditarod much more than a dogsled race.

Pam Clark teaches the Iditarod and its challenging components every spring in her computer class at CY Middle School. The Alaskan dogsled race provides opportunities to practice research, data and computer skills. She had taught the Iditarod for several years before she noticed last spring a woman racer wearing a bright pink parka, mushing a team of dogs joined by pink harnesses. Clark wondered if the pink intentionally stood for breast cancer awareness.

Sure enough, musher Dee Dee Jonrowe is a breast cancer survivor. Only four weeks after her last chemotherapy treatment, Jonrowe started the 2003 Iditarod and finished in 18th place.

Diagnosed with breast cancer in January, Clark was inspired by Jonrowe's strength and wanted to bring that inspiration to Casper and her students.

"She talks a lot about teamwork," Clark said. "Just as she and her dogs are a team, so are the doctors and nurses who help you through cancer. Life is teamwork."

Jonrowe will speak at the Celebrate Courage Breakfast at 7 a.m. Friday at the Parkway Plaza. Donations will be accepted for the Angels Program and Cancer Resource Center of Wyoming Medical Center. Donations stay in the Casper area and are used to support all cancer patients -- not just those with breast cancer. The Angels provide free mammograms and wigs, gas cards and meals and also run errands and do housekeeping work for patients.

To reserve a spot, call 577-2971 before noon Thursday. The event is sponsored by the Angels, the Natrona Country School District, city of Casper and the McMurry Foundation.

Jonrowe will also visit with students, school employees and sled dog associations during the weekend. She has won several awards for her sportsmanship and good care for her dogs, but she is no stranger to setbacks. In 1996 Jonrowe was in a severe car accident, trapped in the freezing car next to her dead grandmother until she was rescued and transported to a hospital an hour away. Friends and fellow mushers helped her recover. The following year, she finished fourth in the Iditarod.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2002, underwent a double mastectomy and finished chemotherapy in January 2003 -- just in time to race the Iditarod. After months of training, she raced the 2006 Ironman -- a 2.4-mile ocean swim, a 112-mile bike race and a 26.2-mile run -- in Kona, Hawaii.

"She really just doesn't give up," Clark said.