Seppala grant set up to support young mushers

In keeping with the legacy of Leonard Seppala and the qualities demonstrated by him in his lifetime, the Seppala Heritage Grant has been established to support and promote those persons demonstrating a commitment to work with, train and race sled dogs, and who demonstrate the qualities of generosity of spirit, courage, integrity and love for the dogs, land and people of Alaska.

The grant has been seeded by the Seppala family with a $10,000 donation with a four-year commitment of $10,000 per year. It is the hope of the Seppala family and the selection committee that other persons or organizations will donate to this charitable grant with money or services, thereby increasing the outreach potential of this grant. Grant funds are administrated by Iditarod National Historic Trail Inc., a private, nonprofit organization with 501, C-3 federal tax status.

Persons eligible for the grant include any youth or junior musher who aspires to the senior Iditarod race for the first time, and who demonstrates the qualities outlined above. Financial need will also be considered.

The advisory committee members for the grant are:

Dan Seavey, musher of Seward, a founder and four-time runner of the Iditarod Race, member of the Iditarod Trail Committee and Iditarod National Historic Trail Inc., and retired history teacher.

Libby Riddles, musher of Fitzcreek, first woman to win the Iditarod Race and recipient of the 1985 Seppala Humanitarian Award, author and sled dog tour operator.

Laura Samuelson, musher of Nome, Iditarod Finish Checker 1991-2001 and director of Nome's Carrie McClain Memorial Museum.

Mike Williams, musher of Akiak, 10-time finisher of the Iditarod Race promoting sobriety, chair of the Alaskan Inter-Tribal Council and member of the Alaska Board of Education.

Maja Ramsey, horsewoman of Sausalito, Calif., teacher, mediator, retired litigator and granddaughter of Leonard Seppala.

Leonard Seppala is an Alaska legend. Born in Norway in 1877, as a young man he migrated to the Nome goldfields. There he began his lifelong love affair with northern sled dogs. First, as a gold mine freighter, later as trainer and racer of imported Siberian dogs. With these, on three occasions, he won the famed 408-mile All Alaska Sweepstakes. He garnered international acclaim in 1925 for the giant's role he played in the dog team relay of serum from Nenana to diphtheria stricken Nome. Seppala died in Seattle at age 90. His ashes were spread along the Iditarod Trail.

Today, Seppala is an honored icon of the world famous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Annual presentations of the Leonard Seppala Humanitarian Award pay tribute to Seppala's exemplary care and kind treatment of racing dogs. Also, honorary mushers selected by the Iditarod Trail Committee's Board of Directors are designated "Leonard Seppala Honorary Mushers." He was the first to be inducted into the Alaska Mushers Hall of Fame in 1967.

The grant committee hopes to have details ironed out enough to solicit applications during the 2005 mushing season.