In this chapter, we are introduced to Glenn Cunningham, a young boy who faced a life-altering tragedy. While preparing the schoolhouse for the day, Glenn accidentally set himself on fire when someone mistakenly filled his kerosene container with gasoline. Left with severe burns on the lower half of his body, doctors believed he would not survive. However, Glenn defied the odds and determinedly clung to life.
Although Glenn survived, the doctors claimed that it would be best if he lost the use of his lower limbs. His mother adamantly refused to let them amputate, and Glenn made up his mind that he would not be confined to a wheelchair. Despite having no motor ability from the waist down, his undying determination to walk remained unwavering.
With his parents' support, Glenn began daily massages for his legs, but there was no sensation or control. Fueled by his unwavering goal, Glenn threw himself from his wheelchair one day and dragged himself across the grass, making his way to the white picket fence in their yard. Holding onto the fence, he began dragging himself along it every day, slowly developing stability and strength in his legs.
Through months of effort and persistence, Glenn gradually regained the ability to walk with assistance and eventually, to walk unassisted. He discovered the sheer joy of running and would often be seen racing around town. In college, his determination paid off as he joined the track team, earning the nickname "Kansas Flyer."
Glenn's extraordinary story reached its pinnacle in 1934 when he ran the mile in four minutes and eight seconds, setting a world record for the fastest indoor mile at Madison Square Garden. Later that year, he further surpassed his achievement by running the world's fastest mile in a prestigious outdoor track meet. Glenn Cunningham's determination and refusal to be defined by his disabilities serve as an inspirational reminder of the power of persistence and the ability to overcome seemingly insurmountable barriers.