A HUSKY racer from Burnley has ventured into the icy wastes of Alaska in a gruelling race against fellow competitors and the elements.

Lesley Monks e-mailed the Lancashire Evening Telegraph from the frozen wastes to say husband Roy had left for an area known as the Rainy Pass.

She admitted she had no idea where he was or how he was doing in the 800-mile Serum run.

"He has 15 dogs in the team," she wrote. "He dropped Terra last night, she is now back with us here in Willow."

Lesley, 49, has set up camp in Willow while Roy tackles the energy-sapping run with his team of highly-trained dogs.

He was aiming for the next checkpoint in Rohn.

After that he faces racing over a glacier and on to Burm. The section is notorious and mushers are known to get lost.

Nine years ago Lesley competed in the gruelling Iditarod Sled Dog Race.

"I lost 30lb in weight and most of my hair last time," she said before setting off to Alaska. "I went through the ice and I had to pull out of the race. I was heavily sponsored by local people just to do the run and I think I was stressed by that fact and that is why my hair dropped out - I was left with just a couple of tufts."

Lesley was the only British woman to have competed in the 1,200 mile race when she first took part in 1988.

This year she decided to enter the shorter three-week Serum run. More than 10 mushers with sleds and dogs entered the contest along with snow machines. The racers left the Indian village of Nenana to head for the Gold Rush City of Nome, on the Bering Sea.

Roy has been in Alaska since October training the couple's 47 dogs. They own a further seven dogs in Burnley who have retired from working life.

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