The 2009 Serum Run Pulls Plug -
MARCH 2, 2009 NENANA, ALASKA
- Due to bad trail conditions. The 2009 Serum Run has
had to pull the plug on this years trip. The decision
was made today for the machiners to head back to Nenana
and the mushers be flown back to Anchoarge. As Norman
Vaughan used to say "Dream Big, Dare to Fail".
He told me once, "you don't always make it the first
time, but you just keep trying" he said "It's
all an adveture".
Serum Run Hits Deep Snow - The 2009 Serum
Run expedition confronts deep snow. The leadersof the
group decided to fly the teams & dog sleds from Tanana
to Ruby, on planes chartered from Wright Flying Services
in Fairbanks. Concerns over snow depth and trail conditions.
(There was 3-12" of snow in the area, depending on
location, with more expected.) So, the group should be
in Ruby later today. They were going to need a few trips
in the planes to move all the dogs & stuff. The snow
machiners, meanwhile, are going overland along the planned
route, and anticipate meeting up with the dog teams in
Ruby. You can track their progress on SPOT trackers -
click
here
This
years medical mission for the Serum Run is stroke prevention
" Alaska Natives continue to experience high stroke
mortality despite a drop in stroke mortality in the general
US population. The epidemiology of stroke has not been
well studied in Alaska Natives. The aim of the Alaska
Native Stroke Registry is to conduct statewide surveillance
of stroke to study this disparity in stroke outcomes and
to improve management and care of these stroke patients.
" (Trimble, 2006) The Alaska Native Stroke Registry Team
is honored to have been selected for the medical mission
of this year's Serum Run. The message we want to get out
to the villages along the way is that Prevention of Stroke
through reduction of risk behaviors is critical. Additionally,
Early Recognition of Stroke and FAST action when someone
is showing signs of an impending stroke is critical to
saving precious brain cells. We are launching the Act
F.A.S.T. campaign as part of this outreach. Attached is
the brochure that was modified last year to be culturally
appropriate for our urban communities as well as our rural
areas. Click
here for brochure (PDF)
Norman
Vaughan in Nenana in 2005
Using History to Preserve
the Future
Serum Run '25 is a dog team journey with snow machine support
across 768 miles of Alaska's frozen rivers, tundra and sea
ice from Nenana to Nome. The mission of this annual trip
is twofold. First, it is to commemorate the twenty men and
their dog teams who relayed crucial diphtheria serum to
Nome, saving countless lives. Second, and more importantly,
it is to widen the awareness throughout Alaska of the need
for inoculations for every single child and to stress important
health issues such as immunizations, medical exams &
cancer screening, tobacco cessation, accident prevention,
HIV awareness and drug and alcohol abstinence.
Mushers and their
snow machining partners along with over 150 sled dogs will
retrace the route of the original Serum Run. Stopping at each
village and school along the way, they will rekindle the spirit
of the Serum Run by bringing a message to school children
and their parents regarding the need for inoculations, awareness
and making healthy lifestyle choices.
It is important
to remember this story and keep it alive through our annual
1925 Serum Run to Nome. It is important to honor the men and
dogs that virtually saved the life of Nome. It is even more
important to honor our children by educating them about their
health.
Learn about
Immunization.
Who is Norman Vaughan?
"In Alaska Native culture,
it is the good you do for others and in life that is important
rather than the importance of things you have done. Allow
people to show you their kindness and goodness, and in
return show yours, and you will be remembered well and
welcomed back anytime."
1925 Serum Run
Dear 2009 Serum Run Participants Congratulations!
Are you ready for the trip of a lifetime and to be inundated with
emails? Well, I hope so because you are embarking on probably
one of the largest trips you will ever do in your life. First,
let me apologize for letting this selection process take longer
than normal but it’s never easy to decide the list. As
usual we are having issues with snowmachiner sign-ups, but the
crazy thing is it isn’t the lack of applicants, but the
lack of applicants with machines. Therefore, it took us sometime
to get folks paired up with partners that have equipment. Snowmachiners
are a huge part of making this trip a success and the more we
have the better we are, so over time our snowmachine pool may
change. Right now, our group
consists of 11 mushers with 3 alternates and currently 19 snowmachiers.2009 participants list click
here
Leave a note!
Visit our
MESSAGE BOARD Leave a message
or read what's happening along the trail
click Here
Spirit
of the Serum Run Award Community: Manley Hot Springs for all their years
of hospitality and dedication to the Serum Run
Individual: Richard
Burnham, Kaltag for all his years of selfless service to the
Serum Run as their food drop coordinator, drop dog caretaker
transporter, trail informer, the list can go on and on.
