This made for television movie was first broadcast the day after Christmas in 1979 and stars Timothy Bottoms, Rip Torn, and Ed Begley, Jr. This is a true story of John Baker, a top-ranked distance runner who is suddenly struck with terminal cancer. Baker, an elementary school teacher, has trouble at first accepting his tragic illness. But with the support of his family and his best friend, John Haaland (Ed Begley Jr.), he challenges his new opponent. Forming a girls track team, the Duke City Dashers, he teaches the girls self-respect and offers hope to two girls with physical handicaps. In his effort to win the race against time, he stresses the importance of trying and eventually leads the team towards a national championship! This film is an admirable account of one man’s brave struggle against cancer that will be a powerful inspiration to many as illustrated by Baker stating: "We are all champions if we just love each other". The account is based on the book by William Buchanan of the same title. Columbia Pictures released the video version in 1981 that has a running time of 100 minutes and visit Amazon.com or an auction site if you want to bring this title into your collection.
