Solo Dog Sled Expedition Across the Wilderness of North Maine

To Raise Funds for Togo Monument in Poland Spring, Maine

Fort Kent, Maine— 2/20/2021 — At noon on Saturday 2/20, a purebred team of Seppala Siberian Sled dogs will depart from the “Americas First Mile Monument” for a solo week-long Expedition of over 261 miles through the north woods of Maine. The route will be due west to the town of Allagash, and then South, through the North Maine Wilderness, finishing some 5-6 days later at the southern end of Moosehead Lake in Greenville, Maine.

This solo expedition is a collaborative effort between the Poland Spring Preservation Society and Seppala dog team musher Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes, to raise funds for a proposed monument of the famed sled dog Togo at the Maine State Building at Poland Spring.

“Few people who have seen the recent Disney movie realize that Togo and musher Leonhard Seppala settled here in Maine after their epic mush to save the children of Nome Alaska from an outbreak of diphtheria in 1925. Togo spent his last days here at our resort,” said Cyndi Robbins, owner of Poland Spring Resort. “Erecting this monument will help Mainers connect to this part of our history.”

Hope in Dark Times

“Togo was an exceptional dog and Leonhard Seppala was an exceptional musher,” said Jonathan Hayes, musher at Poland Spring Kennels. “Due to the current pandemic, most regional dogsled races are shuttered. And so many communities are struggling with COVID—I feel there is no better time to revive this harrowing story of hope. I’m excited to think that my dogsled expedition with the descendants of Seppala’s team will help to create a permanent reminder to our state residents of our connection to this inspiring moment in American history.”

For More Information

To learn more about Togo, Leonhard Seppala, and his team, check out
www.mushmaine.com and
life-with-a-husky.com/togo-the-true-hero/.

To donate to the erection of the Togo monument at the State House in Poland Spring, Maine, visit the GoFundMe link:
Create a statue to honor Togo at Poland Spring.

For further quotes or comments please call:
Cyndi Robbins: 207-240-3560
Jonathan Hayes: 207-316-7010

Historical photos of Togo and Seppala are available through Cyndi Robbins. Photos of the expedition team and musher are available from Jonathan Hayes.