Legendary Musher Gets Statue

Leonhard Seppala was Kven, born in Skibotn in Troms, North Norway. He became known as one of the world's best mushers when, in 1925, he helped transport vital medicine to Nome in Alaska with a dog team, led by the dog Togo.

Among the mushers who transported the serum in bad weather and extreme cold was the kven Gunnar Kaasen from Kvænangen, North Norway, and the dog Balto.

In 2020, the film "Togo – the untold true story", about Seppala and the great serum run, became available on Disney's streaming services. The rescue operation became the origin of the world-famous Iditarod dog sled race.

In connection with the 100th anniversary of the dramatic expedition in Alaska, in 2025, work is now starting to create a statue of Seppala and the dog Togo. Money has been collected for the statue, which will cost around NOK 1.2 million, reports NRK.

Skjervøy municipality, where Seppala grew up, then allocated up to NOK 600,000 for the purpose. Artist Frode Lillesund is looking forward to getting started on the statue.

"I have been waiting for this project for a long time", he says to NRK.