Into the Wind, a documentary film by Steve Nash highlighting the efforts of sports legend and cancer activist Terry Fox, will air later this month as part of ESPN’s “30 for 30” series. The film series aims to document transformative sports stories of the past three decades.
The Canadian runner lost a leg to osteosarcoma and embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise awareness and funds for cancer research in 1980. Throughout Fox’s epic run, dubbed the Marathon of Hope, the 21-year-old met with mayors and sports figures and other dignitaries, presenting an intrepid front in the face of rough weather and daunting physical hardship. Running on one good leg and one prosthetic leg, Fox covered 3,339 miles when, on day 143, the marathon ended prematurely. The cross country runner was taken to the hospital, where physicians discovered that cancer had spread to his lungs. He died nine months later.
Nash, who is a point guard for the Phoenix Suns, remembers being six-years old and waking up every morning to find out what distance Fox had legged the day before. “It was just a human feat that is unparalleled,” Nash was quoted as saying on NBA.com. “The toughness, single-mindedness and unselfishness with which he committed his life is just a beautiful story about human beings, human power, and being greater than ourselves. It captivated our country, for sure.”
Fox’s efforts are captured in the hour-long biopic by filmmaker Nash and his production partner, Ezra Holland. The film premiered at the Toronto Film Festival earlier this month.
Into the Wind will premier on ESPN on Tuesday, September 28, at 8 p.m. EST.
