Sled Dogs to the Rescue

Sled Dogs to the Rescue

A Terrible Disease In January 1925, sled dog teams raced through Alaska in a blizzard to save children's lives.

It started when a disease spread through a small town in Alaska called Nome. The children needed medicine right away. The medicine that could save the children was a great distance away.

The medicine could be delivered part of the way by train. Even so, it was 674 miles (1, 085 km) from the last train stop to Nome. Sled dogs were the best way to deliver the medicine through the snow. However, the distance was too far for one team. A sled dog relay was the only hope.

The Great Sled Dog Relay More than 20 teams and 150 dogs were to take part in the relay. Each musher would give the medicine to the next team along the way. When the medicine arrived by train, it was handed to the first team, and the race was on.

The dogs battled through rough wilderness in the bitter cold. Often, the medicine had to be warmed by a fire to keep it from freezing. Some of the dogs did not survive the journey.