Before the 1,100 mile Iditarod dog sled race got it's start in 1973, many in the sport occupied their time retelling the story of the 'Serum Run'. In 1925, an outbreak of diphtheria hit residents of the remote gold-rush town of Nome, Alaska and word got out that the town's supply of serum was rapidly running out.

A team of 20 men and their dogs rallied together and set out from Nenana to cover the 674 miles to deliver 300,000 units of medicine. This heroic and nicest of acts immortalized team members including Leonhard Seppala and Gunnar Kaasen and dogs like Balto and Togo. There's even a statue of Balto somewhere in Central Park (if anyone knows, please let us know).

Today, the Serum Run lives on in the tracks of the Iditarod. It's a wonderful testament to a truly selfless act.
read the article in The Mercury News...