Dog sledding is a popular sport in many countries around the world. Competitive dog sledding can be a grueling sport, but recreational dog sledding can be a lot of fun, especially in the winter when many people are confined to indoor activities. Many years ago I had a small team of Siberian Huskies that I did sledding with.

         Much to my delight, I read about a study conducted by Fédéric Sotteau who is the founder of the French non-profit group Sourire á la Vie in Canada and Dr. Nicolas André, a pediatric oncologist at the Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, France, where they found that dog sledding provided positive results for children who were being treated for cancer.

         There were eleven children ages ten – eighteen years old and five chaperones which included doctors and nurses who participated in the expedition.

         Many people, including doctors’, think that children who are being treated for cancer are too tired, weak or sick to participate in sports or other physical activities. The children themselves lose faith in their abilities to be active as well.

         After going through a program of physical conditioning and training, the children were allowed to participate in the expedition. The reason why the study group picked dog sledding was to provide a unique sport experience that included a change of scenery and bonding with the sled dogs as well as the adventuresome aspect of the event.

         The study showed that adapted physical activity is very beneficial to children with cancer, their physical and mental health benefit from the program.

         It would be great if more groups sponsored this type of therapy for children with pediatric cancer.

ecancer. (2015, July 28). Dog sledding offers a healthy dose of adventure for children with cancer. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 22, 2025 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150728092057.htm