DOG HEROES ALASKA 1925

In January 1925,doctors realized a potentially deadly diphtheria epidemic was poised to sweep thu Nome,Alaska's young people. The only serum that could stop the outbreak was in Anchorage, nearly a thousand miles away. The only aircraft that could deliver the medicine was taken out of winter storage. But it's engine was frozen and would not start.
Officials decided the only way to move the medicine was by Sled dog. The serum was transported by train from Anchorage to Nenana,where the first musher embarked as part of a rely.More than 20 mushers took part,facing a blizzard with -23 deg.F. and strong winds.
On Feb.2,1925,the Norwegian Gunnar Kaasen drove his team led by Balto into Nome. The longest and most hazardous stretch of the run was actually covered by another Norwegian,Leonhard Seppala and his dog team led by Togo.
Kaasen did not consider Balto to be a particularly good lead dog.But Balto proved himself by saving his team in the Topkok river.Balto was also able to stay on the trail near whiteout conditions which Kaasen said he could not see his hand in front of his face. During the blizzard Kaasen and his team missed the last sled dog team and had to take the medicine twice as far.
Togo was the star dog for Leonhard Seppala even before the great serum run.At the time of the serum run, Togo was nine years old.