Updated: Mar 8, 2021

Togo 261 Expedition

I wanted to let our team friends know that I am embarking on a roughly 285-mile Expedition the last week of February across the North Woods of Maine by dogsled team. The purpose of this expedition is to commemorate the 261 miles that musher Leonhard Seppala and his lead dog Togo ran to save the children of Nome, Alaska, from an outbreak of Diphtheria in 1925.

Why do such an expedition in Maine and why now? Two years after the famous Serum Run, Seppala and his team settled at the Poland Spring Inn and Resort in Maine to race, breed, and train Seppala Siberian Sled dogs. His legendary leader, Togo, lived out the remainder of his days in Poland Spring.

The Poland Spring Preservation Society has partnered with Cyndi Robbins (owner/operator of Poland Spring Inn and Resort) to commission a monument of Togo to be erected at the Maine State Building in Poland Spring. The monument is projected to cost an estimated $25,000. My hope is that this dogsled expedition—using the very canine descendants of Leonhard Seppala’s team—will help to raise media awareness and the needed funds for the monument.

Donate directly to the monument:
Togo Monument GoFundMe

There is so much to do for this expedition including logistics, making promotional videos, snowmobile escort through higher trafficked areas, coordinating media items, and soliciting fundraising efforts. The ways in which you can be an expedition “Dog Team Member” are endless. If you are willing to join the expedition “Dog Team,” please let me know. I will add you to our mailing list. We would love to have you fill a slot on our team!

Thanks in advance for joining our dog team and seeing this worthy endeavor through.

Truly,
Jonathan Hayes
Lead Dog at Poland Spring Seppala Kennels
www.mushmaine.com
207-316-7010 | Instagram: @mushmaine