A 5-year-old boy recovering from leukemia will be transformed into a crime-fighting superhero on Friday with the help of San Francisco city officials and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Miles, who lives with his parents in Tulelake in Siskiyou County, asked to be Batman for his wish with the nonprofit, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, police Chief Greg Suhr and others are obliging with a series of special events for the youngster.
Miles, who has dealt with leukemia since he was a year old, is in remission and only last month had a port removed that was inserted into his chest to deliver medicines.
He will receive a call on Friday morning from Suhr requesting help in saving a damsel in distress on a cable car.
Miles will then help in capturing “The Riddler” at a bank vault on Montgomery Street, then will enjoy lunch at a restaurant near Union Square, where a crowd will then urge him to help save San Francisco Giants mascot Lou Seal from a kidnapping.
Miles will go to AT&T Park and rescue Lou Seal from the villain Penguin, then will be escorted to City Hall where the mayor will give him a key to the city.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation, which turns dreams into reality for sick children, will be using social media to describe Miles’ journey throughout the city on Friday. People can follow along using the hashtag #SFBatkid on Twitter.
“This wish has meant closure for our family and an end to over three years of putting toxic drugs in our son’s body,” Miles’ mother Natalie said in a statement. “This wish has become kind of a family reunion and is our celebration of his treatment completion.”
More information about the day of events for Miles, or information on how to donate to the foundation, can be found online at http://sf.wish.org/news-and-events/news/wish-news/batman.
IT'S ALMOST TIME! Don't forget to make a sign and come support #SFBatkid tomorrow at Civic Center at 2pm! pic.twitter.com/qOJL8JIOl4
— Make-A-Wish Bay Area (@SFWish) November 15, 2013
Dan McMenamin, Bay City News
