Mushers Retrace Famous Serum Run Trail to Nome

The Serum Run was started by explorer Colonel Norman Vaughan in 1997 to commemorate the actual 800-mile route taken in 1925.

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By KTVA CBS 11
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Story Created: Mar 4, 2011 at 5:43 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Mar 4, 2011 at 8:53 PM AKDT

As Anchorage gets ready to host the ceremonial start of the 2011 Iditarod, non-competitive mushers are already out on the trail celebrating the reason for the last great race with a race of their own.

Mushers and support snowmachiners are on the trail in Galena as part of this year's Serum Run.

The trip follows the actual route used in 1925 when mushers took turns running the trail to Nome with diphtheria medicine.

The Serum Run was started by explorer Colonel Norman Vaughan in 1997 to commemorate the actual 800-mile route taken in 1925.

This year about 10 teams are traveling together along the trail using down time at villages along the trail to talk to kids about the state's high suicide rate.

And, unlike Iditarod competitors, these mushers aren't trying to beat each other to the finish line.

"It is not a race. The Serum Run is not a race to Nome as the Iditarod is. We often tell people we are not on a race to the finish line. We are on a race to save lives, and we are on a humanitarian expedition," said Serum Run musher Terrence Shanigan on the phone from Galena.

Mushers expect to arrive in Nome on March 11.

Iditarod times are expected to be very quick this year as Serum Run mushers say the trail is icy and fast.

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