A dog sledding pioneer from Alaska will be the guest speaker at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon gala and silent auction on Jan. 24.
Dan Seavey helped organize the first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in 1973. His son and grandsons are regular entrants in the historic Alaska race. Seavey has written a book, "The First Great Race: Alaska's 1973 Iditarod," and copies will be available at the Beargrease dinner that takes place two days before race day at the Inn on Lake Superior in Canal Park, officials announced this week.
Seavey was born in Minnesota and moved to Alaska in 1963 to teach at Seward High School. He began mushing and helped start the first Iditarod, and also competed in it.
"I admit to being a hard core Iditarod junkie," Seavey said in a news release from Beargrease organizers. "I was taken with the trail's importance to Alaska's early development and Seward's vital role in that development. The result has been my active role in all things Iditarod."
Seavey's son, Mitch, is a 2004 and 2013 Iditarod champion. Three of Seavey's grandsons have completed the Iditarod, and Dallas Seavey, at age 25 in 2012, holds the record as the youngest Iditarod champion.
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The Beargrease dinner costs $60 per person and reservations can be made by calling (218) 722-7631.
