5 year old leukaemia survivor get's to be batman for a day, SF plays host!

[Deleted]

Thousands of people in San Francisco have turned out to help a boy recovering from leukaemia fulfil his wish to be Batman for a day.

Miles Scott, five, participated in events across the city including fighting mock crimes and receiving an honour from the mayor.

Make-A-Wish Foundation, which organised the event, received pledges from more than 10,000 people to lend a hand.

Miles, in treatment for several years, is now said to be in remission.

According to local television, the youngster thought he was just on his way to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favourite superhero.
Miles nabs villains

But then he heard a broadcast from San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr appealing for help from "Batkid".

Next, the pint-sized superhero saved a "damsel in distress", tied to cable car tracks along a major urban street.

A San Francisco Chronicle live blog of the day's events showed hundreds of people cheering Miles on during the "rescue".

Miles was ferried from events in one of two "Batmobiles", or black Lamborghinis with Batman removable stickers, which were escorted by police.

Later, he foiled a faux robbery in the city's financial district with the help of an adult Batman impersonator.

Authorities who participated in the day's events pretended to apprehend the villain, the Riddler.

Miles also travelled to AT&T Park to rescue the San Francisco Giants baseball team mascot by disarming a fake bomb planted by another classic Batman baddie, the Penguin

The US justice department even prepared an indictment for the Riddler and the Penguin.

Towards the end of the day San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee gave Miles a key to the city.

US President Barack Obama praised the mini-caped crusader in a video from the White House, saying: "Way to go, Miles! Way to save Gotham."

An estimated 7,000 people turned up to help make Miles' wish come true.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation said the event was "on the scale of a military operation".

In real life, Miles has defeated an enemy even more ruthless than Batman's nemeses - he is presently recovering from leukaemia, with which he was diagnosed at 18 months old.

His mother, Natalie, said Friday was a "celebration" of her son's completion of treatment in June.

"This wish has meant closure for our family and an end to over three years of putting toxic drugs in our son's body," she wrote in a statement on the foundation's website.

His father, Nick Scott, thanked the charity and everyone else who took part.

"All the doctors, nurses and all the other parents that have to deal with the same thing we're going through, I hope they get a conclusion to their illnesses like we're getting," he told KGO-TV.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24964100

I may of cried, ok i did, a lot.

Can't believe this happened for the lucky kid, the link has more fantastic pictures - Let this keep your mind off the awful stuff posted here time to time.

[Aeluron Lightsong]

It's campy but Im glad the kid gets to enjoy being around of my most favorite super heroes(Batman obviously).

[Deleted]

Am i the only one thinking its a weird contrast that while this kid plays batman, another 500 die of leukemia?
I mean, this kid lived. Isnt life the greatest gift of all? Better let someone actually dieing play batman..

[Deleted]

Am i the only one thinking its a weird contrast that while this kid plays batman, another 500 die of leukemia?
I mean, this kid lived. Isnt life the greatest gift of all? Better let someone actually dieing play batman..

It's make-a-wish foundation, they do it ALL the time to kids who're dying or are on the mend; he wasn't selected with the thought of "Lol, fuck those kids dying of it lol".

For all we know, he could of made the wish when he was dying but when on the mend they finally delivered.

But i agree, life is the greatest gift of all - But the suffering he went through was considerable i'd warrant.

[Basemath]

I'll admit, I also cried .... I first choked up after reading the line "But then he heard a broadcast from San Francisco Police Chief Greg Suhr appealing for help from "Batkid". It was pretty much downhill from there for me.

Though I can't help but think, at such a young impressionable age and such a profound experience, it doesn't leave a lasting effect that ends up hurting him somehow in later years..

[Nobleshield]

I'm going to be called a heartless asshole for this, but what really is the point of this? There's so much fascination with "helping sick kids", how about helping in a better way than devoting resources to something as stupid as playing a super hero for a day? There are thousands of poor/sick/hungry kids and poor families out there, yet people get all giddy over Make a Wish doing things for these children when it really doesn't matter in the long run. Do something long-lasting instead. A lot of adults beat cancer too but you don't see foundations to help them, it's always for kids. Too much fascination with children if you ask me, as though children deserve things more than adults which is wholeheartedly wrong.

[Deleted]

I came in here hoping he would battle famous villains like the Joker or the Penguin, Batkid, I am disappoint!

[Basemath]

"A baby is god's opinion that the world should go on." You're not heartless, per say, but maybe a bit misinformed. I'm not informed either about foundations, but I assume there must exist ones for adults too? n they must have already celebrated their recoveries, whether with cancer or something else, e.g. overcoming disabilities.

Make A Wish is primarily for children I think, and people tend to feel strongly about children, related or not. The point of this? I think it's to boost morale. It seemed to work effectively for people. What irks me is that they may have played the make believe a bit too well for the child's own good.

[yetgdhfgh]

This warmed the cockles of my cold, black, charcoaled heart

And before all the arseholes bitch this was part of make a wish foundation and alot of it came from pledges and the time that was given prolly didnt cost that much except the lunchbreaks of all those involved.

This reminds me of a thing where a dying boy wanted to see spiderman rescue his mother and the whole city helped make it happen in england a few years ago

[Kalis]

...people get all giddy over Make a Wish doing things for these children when it really doesn't matter in the long run.

Nothing matters in the long run.

This is just a reward for having gone through treatment. Why give presents on someone's birthday? What's the point? Are we congratulating them for surviving another year, or is it just a nice thing to do?

These types of publicity events can act as huge emotional incentives for parents whose children are going through similar situations as this boy went through, and that alone is enough to warrant them.

[Demona3]

The Make a Wish Foundation is an INCREDIBLE organization. They do this stuff ALL the time for the children. There are other organizations out there too with this nobility! I used to deliver / pick up from Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee, FL while working at FedEx, and let me tell you, that village is amazing. They host and house families with dying children who wanted to always see Disney World.

I enjoyed it while I worked at FedEx because whenever I went their to deliver or pickup packages, if they had an event, they invited me to stay for it (which I never could because I always was on the run with my job), but still, they are the nicest group of people I have EVER met in my life, and they do the most incredible stuff for the children there.

I remember one time, around Christmas, there was a HUGE event thrown by Disney and I couldn't get the FedEx truck near the door to the office, which was bad. Next thing I know, there was a guy that pulled up beside my truck in a horse and buggy with mickey and minnie sitting on it. They offered me a ride to and from the office to pick up the package I was called to get. Best night of my life ever for working for FedEx. lol

website for Give Kids the World:
http://www.gktw.org/

[Deleted]

Make a wish is incredible for those who actually get chosen.

Meanwhile, 200 thousand people die every day. They had wishes too.