There was a little country schoolhouse that was heated by an old-fashioned, potbellied coal stove. A little boy named Glenn had the job of coming to school early each day and starting the fire to warm up the building. One morning the teacher arrived only to find the building engulfed in flames. Misatking gasoline for karosene Glenn and his brother Floyd has ignited an inferno. The teacher who just arrived, along with other students, got Glenn out in time but his brother didn't make it. Glenn had major burns on the lower half of his body. He was taken to a nearby hospital where the doctor told his mother that he probably wouldn't live. "It's for the best," he said, "Because he is so badly burned."

The brave little boy didn't want to die. Glenn made up his mind he would survive but he was doomed to be a cripple all his life and never walk. The little boy managed to gain strength, although from the waist down he had no motor ability. It seemed hopeless. Ultimately the boy was released from the hospital. Every day his mother would massage his legs, but there was no feeling.

One day his mother wheeled him out into the yard. It was a sunny day. Instead of sitting there, the boy threw himself from the chair. He pulled himself across the grass and managed to work his way to the picket fence. With much effort Glenn raised himself up and stake by stake, dragged himself along the fence. He resolved that he would walk. Every day he dragged himself to the fence and worked his way along the fence.

Through the daily massages, his iron persistence and his resolute determination, he developed the ability to stand up. Eventually he had enough strength to walk. He began to walk to school, then later he started running to school. Glenn entered college and made the track team. Still later in Madison Square Garden the boy, now a young man, who was never expected to walk, ran the world's fastest mile: 4:04.4. In 1938, when Cunningham ran his fastest mile in 4:04.4, At one time he owned 12 of the 31 fastest mile times on record. Through endurance, Dr. Glenn Cunningham had overcome what others thought was a permanent disability.