Winston MacDonald is in trouble. He's been suspended from school and he's run away from home. After the police pick him up, he is sent to spend time with his father, a newspaper columnist who hasn't been around much since the family split up a year ago.

Travelling to Nova Scotia with his father, who is covering what he thinks is just a human interest story about a young man trying to run across Canada, Winston spends some time with Terry Fox and Terry's best friend, Doug. Their determination to achieve what seems like an impossible goal makes a big impression on Winston and he takes courage and inspiration from Terry's run. He is overjoyed when his father's article about the Marathon of Hope ignites public interest across the country.