Don’t Miss ‘The First Wave: The Story Behind Iowa’s Football Tradition’ Documentary

Patients, staff, teachers, and Hawkeye fans have all been featured in a half-hour documentary as part of Big Ten Network's new series "The B1G Moment."

The First Wave: The Story Behind Iowa's Football Tradition follows the events leading up to the first time Kinnick Stadium turned after the first quarter of Hawkeye football to wave to the kids in the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.

via GIPHY

The documentary shows how the tradition got its start from a simple Facebook that blew up and turned into a nationwide heartfelt initiative to let the kids battling disease, illness, and injury that we've all got their back.

Check out this extended preview of the documentary, and if you have kids, know kids, or have a heart, you're going to tear up.

The short documentary originally aired on Monday, September 12th, and is set to air again on the Big Ten Network on Thursday, September 22nd at 9:30 am, Wednesday, September 28th at 5:00 pm and October 6th at 3:00pm.

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Featured in the documentary is Krista Young, who had the original idea. It began as a post in the Hawkeye Heaven Facebook group, and blew up into one of the country's favorite football traditions.

Also featured is the Quad City's own Megan Gleeson, mother of Reid, who was a patient of the Stead Family Children's Hospital. Reid was diagnosed with Medulloblastoma in 2017. In his time staying at the hospital, he spent many weekends on floor 12 participating in the wave.

Hear Krista and Megan tell their stories here:

In the time he was there, Reid was visited by the Hawkeye Basketball team, and became friends with Jake Gervase as well.

Sadly, Reid passed away on October 13, 2020. The Gleesons launched Rally For Reid, a non-profit that provides financial and emotional support to children and families impacted by childhood cancer. Whether through gas cards, meals, or special activities, the Rally for Reid Foundation hopes to ease the burden on families and support them through their fight.

Reid is memorialized through the work his family does to help the families and children at the Stead Family Children's Hospital, as well as Reid's Story Corner at the hospital's children's library.

You can learn more about Rally For Reid on their website: