Documentary discusses ups and downs of Fox’s “Marathon of Hope”

Originally written for the San Diego City Times blog.

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People don’t often associate cancer with disability, unless they or a loved one has been diagnosed with one of its forms.

Americans are accustomed to envisioning physical disability as being embodied by someone who either uses a walker or wheelchair, or who is blind or deaf. The most recognizable symbol for disability – the same one painted onto disabled parking spaces and accessible restrooms – is essentially a stick figure in a wheelchair. But it is irrefutable that cancer can be as physically disabling as any other condition, and as NBA All-Star Steve Nash’s documentary "Into the Wind" illustrates, it also carries an emotional weight.

Terry Fox, a Canadian teenager, was diagnosed with a form of bone cancer called osteogenic sarcoma in 1977. In order to save his life, doctors amputated his right leg six inches above the knee.

Fox is the subject of the hour long film, co-directed by Nash and Ezra Holland, which is part of a series aired on ESPN called “30 for 30.” Many of the pieces describe how sports-related events, stories or athletes impacted society. "Into the Wind" explains that prior to his diagnosis, Fox was an athlete, although his childhood friend Doug Alward jokingly described him as “the worst grade eight [basketball] player in all of Canada”.

Despite his lack of success on a basketball court, a letter on the Terry Fox Foundation website explains that Fox’s former basketball coach encouraged him to pursue running after losing his leg. As counter-intuitive as that might sound, shortly after his diagnosis and amputation, he decided to run across the country to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society. His goal was to complete nearly 26.2 miles per day, and thus his endeavor was called “The Marathon of Hope.”

Throughout the documentary, the directors include interviews with Fox’s parents and brother, reporters who covered his journey and family friends. Footage of Fox giving speeches at fundraising events, being interviewed by Canadian media and completing his daily running are also used. This combination illuminates both the physical difficulty of Fox’s trek and the trouble he experienced regarding the public reaction to his endeavor. The viewer quickly realizes that despite the positive nature of Fox’s efforts, he still was susceptible to the same frustrations and subject to the same trials as anyone else.

The film's title possesses a double meaning in my estimation. Not only did Fox have to literally run "into the wind" on a daily basis to accomplish his goal, but also he eventually had to navigate a forceful Canadian public and media structure that demanded more from him than Fox believed was possible at times.

“It wasn’t new for someone to run across Canada,” one interviewee observed. “What was new was that we all paid attention.”

Perhaps people paid attention because of the circumstances. The intrigue of what initially sounds oxymoronic to the untrained ear – a disabled person running across the country – might have been what captivated Canada.

According to other parts of the film, however, people did not take notice when Fox first began running, and initially, it was difficult for him to raise any money. As the film shows, with time, Fox and his supporters were able to garner more media coverage, which came with its own set of challenges. Fox had said that he wanted to set an example for people with disabilities and that he only tolerated the publicity to raise money for cancer research.

I am usually wary of news reports, movies and documentaries that discuss the topic of disability for fear that they will label the story’s protagonist a hero or inspiration. But Nash and Holland managed to largely avoid this trend and instead told a story that acts more like a hybrid. While instilling hope, it is also realistic in its treatment of the topics of cancer and disability. They present Fox’s efforts fairly, recognizing his run as inspiring and noble without being patronizing.

The Terry Fox Foundation was established in the late 1980s, and according to its website, it has raised nearly $500 million for cancer research.

"Into the Wind" was first shown on ESPN on Sept. 28, 2010. It is available for purchase on iTunes and Amazon.com, along with a selection of other documentaries in the “30 for 30” series.