Leonhard Seppala and Togo deliver the antitoxin to the next driver, and the drivers find themselves in the final stretch of their journey. Gunnar Kaasen and the dog (allegedly) leading his sled, Balto, make the final push into Nome and get the glory.

As we wrap up our series on the Nome Serum Run, we'll take a look at the lasting effects of the remarkable journey on those involved, the history of Alaska, and on public health policy.

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As the epidemic of Diphtheria in Nome rages, a race against pathogen begins. Vials of antitoxin, the only treatment available for the deadly disease must make it to Nome from the outside world. There will not be a single moment to spare. In their time of need, these Alaskans turned to the the most reliable means of winter transport they knew - the dog sled.

Teams of drivers are organized into a relay stretching from the town of Nenana, a railway depot in the interior of the state, to Nome on the frozen coast. The most perilous part of the journey will require crossing a twenty-mile stretch of pack ice on the Norton Sound, exposed to the elements in the middle of blizzard in the pitch black darkness of night. There is only one man and lead dog for this job - the indefatigable Leonhard Seppala and his legendary Siberian Husky, Togo.

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Winter has fallen in the small town of Nome, Alaska in 1925, and the town doctor, Curtis Welch, has made a startling discovery - an epidemic of deadly Diphtheria is spreading though the town's children like wildfire. Cut off from the outside world by the pack ice on the Bering Sea, Dr Welch and the people of Nome are powerless against the pathogen in their midst.

In this first of our three part series on "The Great Race of Mercy," we cover the origins of the Nome Diphtheria epidemic that inspired beloved Hollywood movies like Balto and Togo. We explore the origins of the city of Nome, the history and biology of Diphtheria, and the treatments available at the time.

For more episodes of Nerd Roamer, find us and subscribe on your podcast service of choice - we are available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and many more! For detailed show notes, pictures and bonus content, check out our website nerdroamer.com.

For news and announcements, you can follow us on Instagram or Twitter @nerdroamer