Enlarge By Eppo Eerkes Jamaican musher Newton Marshall begins his first Iditarod on Saturday. Newton Marshall trained for sled-dog racing with stray mutts pulling a sled on wheels through the streets of Jamaica. Now he's poised to begin the grueling Iditarod race across the snow-streaked interior of Alaska, where he faces fierce weather and competition from a world-class field of 70 other mushers. The Iditarod starts Saturday in Anchorage and will cover more than 1,100 miles. The hope among Marshall's supporters is that he will inspire others who might see his accomplishments and believe they can also do great things. Singer Jimmy Buffett is among Marshall's strongest supporters. "He's absolutely a hero to kids in Jamaica," Buffett said. Buffett's Margaritaville restaurants are key sponsors for Marshall's dog-sled team, and the famed songwriter says he did not hesitate to back Marshall after learning of his story. Buffett first heard of the Jamaican after meeting Danny Melville, who runs a family-owned tour business in Jamaica where Marshall was employed as a guide. "I thought from the beginning it was just very cool what he was doing," Buffett said. "I thought it was so far out there, but it made people smile when they heard about it." Marshall, who turned 27 Tuesday, once trained with mutts from the Jamaica Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals but now runs with some of the best dogs from three-time Iditarod champion Lance Mackey's kennel. Marshall has been training with Mackey in Alaska in recent months. During previous races over the last two years, the Jamaican's mettle has been tested. "He works very, very hard at his craft," says Chas St. George, spokesman for the Iditarod. "He ran the 2009 Yukon Quest, and as a rookie he finished that race. It's a 1,000-mile race. Many rookies who later on in their careers have run all kinds of races have failed to finish that particular race." Marshall became the first Jamaican to finish the Yukon Quest, coming in 13th out of a field of 29 mushers. His journey to the Iditarod began in Edmonton, where Melville was looking for dune buggies for his tourism business. He spotted a sled with wheels, "and I thought, we could do that, we've got thousands of dogs in Jamaica that have no home," Melville says. In Jamaica, Marshall was guiding tours and met Shelly Kennedy, a retired school principal from Michigan who moved to Jamaica with her husband. She taught Marshall to read during tutoring sessions after his workday ended. When Hurricane Ivan threatened Jamaica, Kennedy fled her home with jewelry, cash and other belongings. "All Newton took was his books," she says. "He's motivated, and I think that's the main thing with him." Melville met Buffett in 2005 and told him about the dog sled on wheels. Buffett recalls how tears came to his eyes when he watched a documentary film about Marshall. "He has some kind of fortitude that is unexplainable," Buffett says. In the run-up to the Iditarod, Marshall says he's been listening to reggae music while sledding near Fairbanks. His favorite artist is Jamaican Buju Banton. "One of his songs —All Will Be Fine— that one touched me to the bone," Marshall said. He loves the lyrics: "Today you're down, comes tomorrow Chances of rising again seems hollow Doubt may be in your mind oh, oh give it time And all will be fine." Marshall is somewhat concerned about the cold, given that frostbite attacked his nose during a previous race. As the Iditarod approaches, though, "I don't see any big worries. I just can't wait to get there," he says. "I'm planning on finishing the race." Guidelines: You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. You share in the USA TODAY community, so please keep your comments smart and civil. Don't attack other readers personally, and keep your language decent. Use the "Report Abuse" button to make a difference. Read more