Rent-to-own News - Childers spreads ColorTyme goodwill in Alaskan villages

Mark Childers

This year ColorTyme of Alaska's Mark Childers added his name to an elite list of adventurers who have participated in the The Kobuk 440, known as "The toughest race above the Arctic Circle".

Sort of.

Though he didn't actually mush in the April 400-mile sled dog race -- he had to pull out of the race to tend to a family emergency -- he left perhaps an even more enduring mark.

The Kobuk trek -- often used as training ground for the Iditarod -- is unique because it passes through seven Native Alaskan villages with great community fanfare. That's one of the things Childers says intrigued him about the race. Because of it's proximity to Easter, children traditionally greet the mushers at every village checkpoint where an Easter basket is raffled as each musher passes through.

This year Childers stepped up to sponsor the Kobuk Easter basket tradition and even upped the ante. At each of the seven village checkpoints, Childers also raffled off a laptop computer for the older children.

"It was just a natural, it combined everything we liked, kids, Alaska, dogs," Childers said. "It's a real celebration up there when this goes on and we're just glad to be a part of it. A lot of the older kids sort of lose interest or outgrow it after a while, this was a way to keep it interesting for them too."

Childers' ColorTyme stores serve communities in Fairbanks, Wassilla and Anchorage.

"Everything happens for a reason and a purpose," Childers said. "This just wasn't my year. I really wanted it, but it just wasn't meant to be. This gives my another year to prepare. I was very happy to sponsor the Easter and laptop raffles. That was still a very cool way to be involved."

Childers, still an admitted novice who got his first sled dog in 2010, plans to tackle the Kobuk next year and hopefully the Iditarod in 2013.

Childers company was ranked number one in ColorTyme's prestigious "Top Ten" franchise rankings in 2010 and he and wife, Tracy, were named ColorTyme's "Franchisee of the Year" in 2008. Childers also serves as chairman of ColorTyme's Franchise Advisory Council.

"People ask me why I do it and I have to say, this is beautiful country and there are a lot of ways to see it," he said. "For me, I can't think of a better way to see it than from a sled behind some good dogs."

The grueling 400 mile Kobuk 440 is held annually during the second weekend in April in the northwest region of Alaska.  It is a qualifying race for both the Iditarod sled dog race and the Yukon Quest.