Dorchester County Public School students provide heartfelt letters for Iron Man Maryland competitors

CAMBRIDGE, Md – Dorchester County public school students send out heartfelt letters for athletes so they can get inspired to complete their race.

DCPS, student Maddie Redmer, who wrote the letter, said she wanted to inspire whoever would receive the letter. “I’m pretty sure at the end of the letter I said you are an Iron Man they say that once you cross the finish line.”

That person turned out to be triathlete, George Peters, and their relationship has not turned back since. “Anything is possible” is the tagline behind the Iron Man races. Peters said this was a life-changing letter. “It just gave such a positive note, where at the end it says you are an Iron Man, I had not finished an Iron Man up to that point, I was 0 for 4 and I read that and felt that positive reinforcement that I felt I needed.”

Maddie wrote her letter in the 4th grade, at only 10-years-old, Peter is so grateful for DCPS setting up this messaging program. “These letters are a great thing, and I can speak for most of the athletes that this is a great program and I’m so grateful that they have it,” said Peters.

Maddie’s father, Scott Redmer is so proud of his daughter, and he said George is like an extension of the family. “It’s just you know we’ve come to grow as one big family together, so we enjoy having him come around.”

Peter’s mom was suffering from stage 4 lung and brain cancer, which created some anxiety heading into race day, “You don’t sleep well the night before, you have anxiety, everything is going on in your mind, you’re thinking about what’s going on, but you’re also thinking about what could go wrong.” However, the letter received was all the motivation he needed to never give up. “I have two daughters and when Maddie’s letter came to me it felt like it was done by one of my daughters.”

George Peter will compete in the Iron Man Maryland tomorrow morning, at 6:40 a.m.