Wasilla woman skates home -- for a few days

After more than a week on the road, Laura Clark-Maketa is coming home -- but just for a short time.

Clark-Maketa is inline skating from Fairbanks to Seward to raise money for the Alaska Family Resource Center, and to raise awareness about domestic violence. Today, she is coming through Wasilla and tomorrow, she is part of a large community barbecue scheduled in Palmer.

"I'm hanging in there. My emotional stamina is doing pretty good right now," she said Wednesday afternoon from Trapper Creek. "We're already on our third support vehicle. Our first one lost the transmission on the first day, and then we rented a car. We're back to the truck now."

Clark-Maketa has been skating about 45 miles a day since she started. She will begin her ride through Wasilla at the Little Miller's stand about 15 miles north of Wasilla, and then make her way to town. She'll ride on the bike path through Wasilla and then on the frontage road at Seward Meridian.

A Wasilla resident, Clark-Maketa was able to travel home at night once she got closer to the Valley.

"It's nice because I can sit in the hot tub and relax. I've read my two boys their bedtime stories, too," Clark-Maketa said.

Tomorrow, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmer Elks Club, there will be a barbecue in Palmer, with the community invited.

Clark-Maketa is getting a police escort through the town, and the Mat-Su Miners will be on hand to sign autographs and talk baseball.

Food is being donated by Alaska Premium Food Source, Mary Beth Schmidt of the Alaska Family Resource Center said. "And they're donating food to our center as well, which is a big help," Schmidt said.

"The picnic be a fun community celebration," Schmidt said. "Everyone is invited to come meet Laura and the Mat-Su Miners and just to have fun."

Clark-Maketa picks up her journey Sunday, making the trek to Anchorage along the Glenn Highway.