In 1980, Fox was seeking a way to raise awareness for cancer research. His own struggle with the disease had resulted in the amputation of his right leg. Despite that handicap, Fox set out from Canada's Atlantic shore with the ambition to run across the country, coast to coast. By the mid-point in his journey he had become a national hero. Sadly, Fox was forced to quit his run due to a re-occurrence of cancer that took his life at age twenty-three. In the film, we hear from Fox's family and friends, interwoven with rich archival footage. They supply an insider's account that makes us understand Fox as a human being, rather than just a symbol.