Togo and Genashtim, the Underdogs Who Carried the Impossible
Written by: Hema Krishnan
Some stories remain close to our hearts because we see ourselves in the story’s character. Togo is one such character in a story that isn’t loud or triumphant; it’s quiet, stubborn, purposeful, unexpected, yet deeply human – just like Genashtim.
Surviving the Beginning No One, Thought You Would
Togo was born in Nome, Alaska in 1913. As a puppy, he was so sick and fragile that he needed intensive care from Constance Seppala, the wife of a musher, sled dog trainer, and dog breeder, Leonhard Seppala. Against all odds, the puppy survived and grew into a restless, undersized dog. Leonhard deemed the bundle of energetic fur difficult, unreliable, and incapable of serious work.
The rambunctious pup was dismissed early, overlooked in favor of dogs that looked stronger and more promising. But Constance saw the tenacious puppy’s heart of a survivor making up for all his so-called shortcomings. Leonhard brushed off his wife’s opinions and gave Togo away – TWICE. Yet, the pup returned both times, much to his annoyance and his wife’s amusement.
Soon, Togo would prove Leonhard wrong. Because the right opportunity has a way of correcting a doubtful first impression.
The Day Togo Found His Purpose
When an important round trip for a client came up, Leonhard tethered Togo to his kennel – sternly telling the dog to stay. Soon after Leonhard left with his sled dog team, Togo broke free and ran all the way to the cabin where Leonhard and his sled dogs were spending the night. The next morning, he caused so much chaos – chasing reindeer and distracting the sled dogs with his antics, Leonhard had no choice but to harness the 8-month-old puppy to the sled.
Togo instantly calmed. During the run, Togo outran every single dog – finally, he was harnessed to lead. The underdog was now the lead dog with unmatched prowess.
The Journey That History Almost Got Wrong
When Togo was 12 and should have been retired in 1925, he ran the most important, treacherous trip of his life.
That year, as a massive snowstorm closed in on Nome, a deadly diphtheria outbreak was making children very sick. Their survival depended on an impossible relay across frozen land to fetch the serum to treat the disease. Leonhard was tasked with delivering the life-saving medicine, and he entrusted Togo with the job.
Togo bravely led the sled dog team, with Leonhard at command, armed with the heart of a survivor.
The legendary 1925 run became known as the Serum Run, and Balto would be remembered as the dog who delivered the serum to treat the children.
But it was Togo who ran the lion’s share of the miles, crossing the most dangerous terrain, battling the harshest winds, and pushing far beyond what anyone thought he could endure. His contribution was essential, though less visible.
The Quiet Strength of the Underdog
That is the heart of a survivor. Survivors are often underestimated. They are the underdogs: the ones whose backgrounds, circumstances, or perceived limitations cause others to doubt them. Many people at Genashtim know this experience very well. Team members from the marginalized communities, persons with disabilities, refugees, seniors, LGBTQ individuals, and women in oppressed environments have been told, in subtle and overt ways, that they were not enough, not capable, not the obvious choice.
Proving Worth Through Perseverance, Not Perception
Like Togo, they proved otherwise – not through words, but through perseverance. Not through how they were seen, but through what they continued to do. Progress was earned step by step, mile by mile, in moments when quitting would have been easier than continuing.
Loyalty That Lasts Beyond Recognition
What makes Togo’s story especially powerful is not just how far he ran, but how long he stayed. He served Leonhard Seppala faithfully for more than twelve years, running even as age slowed him and his fur turned gray. His loyalty was never transactional. It came from trust, belief, and commitment to something larger than himself. That same quiet loyalty lives on in the longest-serving employees at Genashtim. They chose to stay, contribute, and grow with Genashtim over many years.
Courage When Comfort Is No Longer an Option
The Serum Run was never about comfort or recognition. It was about responsibility and resolve under extreme pressure. In much the same way, the work at Genashtim often demands pushing forward despite uncertainty, limited resources, and difficult conditions. We’re driven not by ease, but by purpose and collective courage.
Endurance as a Form of Purpose
Every meaningful endeavor has its own version of the Serum Run. These are the moments when the path forward looks impossible, and the stakes are high. Success in such moments rarely comes from brilliance alone. It comes from endurance, trust, and continuing forward with everything you have, even when no one is watching.
When Survival Becomes the Greatest Strength
Togo reminds us that greatness doesn’t always look grand. Sometimes it looks like survival. Sometimes it looks like loyalty. Sometimes it looks like refusing to accept the limits others place on you.
The Heart That Keeps Running Forward
At Genashtim, that same spirit quietly fuels the people behind the work. With the heart of a survivor, Genashtim has turned what many believed was impossible into something undeniably possible and continues to run forward, no matter the odds.
