“In life, nothing is impossible. There are obstacles in what you want to complete, but no impossible. And was designed to throw the obstacles down.”
With these words spoken in a Tedx Talk, Miguel Martins introduced the story of Iron Brothers – a movement was born Athletic ambitionBut out of love, resilienceAnd a determination to raise awareness cerebral palsy,
Pedro, who is now 31 years old, lives with cerebral palsy. With their brother Miguel, both made Iron brothersPortugal’s first special team to take Ironman-a fierce triathlon including 38 km open water, 180 km bike ride and a full 42.2 km marathon run. Their goal was not only to end the race, but to start a national movement supporting individuals with cerebral palsy, especially through sports.
The idea began around 2021, when Pedro and Miguel heard for the first time Ironman competitionPedro saw it more than just one race. He imagined it as a platform – a way to raise awareness about the support and lack of resources available to people with cerebral palsy, and to raise funds for the Cerebral Palsy Association of Lisbon (APCL), the institution that he considers his “second home”.
Pedro wanted to ask for a help, not his parents. Miguel explained to the documentary Iron Brothers: “My brother had a project to help his school, APCL, which was his second home. His eyes glowed, when he realized that he could ask for that help, and not the parents. It was the right opportunity.”
Competition to Ironman is also a challenge for the most elite athletes. But with the partner of a disabled team requires extraordinary efforts and coordination. The Miguel takes to the full physical load of the race, while Pedro rides with her: he bicycles Pedro in a canoe to swim, bicycle with her in a customized leading bustling bike, and pushes her to a specially designed racing wheelchair for the run.
Prior to Ironman, both participated in several other events to build speed and visibility. He completed several 10k runs, a full marathon, several half marathons and even a half -ironman. But this was his successful completion of a full Ironman who actually attracted public attention.
With the Iron Brothers Project, Miguel and Pedro asked individuals and companies to contribute to symbolic charity to support their mission. The raised funds go directly to APCL, which helps the organization to buy important resources such as wheelchair, special hygiene crane and accessible buses for families that cannot tolerate them.
Credit: Instagram/@migulfpinto
Miguel insisted: “With good conditions, everyone like Pedro can communicate simple things like ‘I want to go to the toilet,” I need to eat, “I need physiotherapy.’ We all need to make conditions for this.
Today, Iron Brothers have developed in a nationwide movement. This has inspired many families of individuals with cerebral palsy to join more and advocate better support systems.
Credit: Instagram/@migulfpinto
It has a powerful relationship between all two brothers in his heart. His journey has not only changed Portugal’s visual disability and way of sports, but has also brought deep meaning to his life.
Pedro shares: “We have become a much better people because my brother is present in our life. If he was not present, we will not realize that someone is so selfless love. But he shows that to be happy is to do simple work, such as gathering the family in every weekend and having a separate program in every weekend.
