The Great Race of Mercy

The Iditarod Race began as a mercy mission.  In 1925 people in Nome, Alaska, were dying from diphtheria.  10,000 people of that region were at risk from diphtheria, a contagious bacterial disease which caused people’s airways to become blocked by a thick coating in their throat. 

The Nome, Alaska doctor, Dr. Curtis Welch, recognized the illness and quarantined people (kept people at home to decrease the chances of spreading the disease.)  He recognized the danger to his people but did not have the medicine they needed.  Diptheria antitoxin was available—in Anchorage, Alaska (many miles away.) 

How could the diphtheria antitoxin be delivered?  The Alaskan Territorial Governor came up with a plan.  By using relay teams of 20 of the best mail carrier mushers (dog sled drivers) and 150 dogs, the antitoxin could be delivered to Nome (674 miles). 

The heroes took the antitoxin through blizzards, temperatures of 50 degrees below zero as they traveled day and night in an effort to save lives.  This “Great Race of Mercy” was completed in 5 days and 7 hours.  While five children died from diphtheria, the heroic efforts of the dog mushers saved many lives.  What a great story from history.  The Iditarod commemorates the heroism of these brave men.  http://www.cdc.gov/24-7/SavingLives/diptheria/index.html

P.S. If you are wondering about the danger of diphtheria, we receive vaccines to protect us when we get DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus).  I’ve never seen a case of diphtheria (and I’m thankful.  It sounds like an awful way to die.)  

I took this picture during a dogsled demonstration at the home of Susan Butcher (4 time Iditarod winner before she died from cancer in 2006) and her family.  Her family continues to promote dogsledding.