There are superheroes among us
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Window washers dressed up as superheroes scaled the side of Children’s of Alabama hospital Tuesday morning, bringing big smiles to the surprised patients inside – and maybe a few squeals of delight.
Superman, Batman, Captain America and Spiderman climbed the outside of the 12-story Benjamin Russell Building at the hospital, pausing to wave through the windows at their young fans.
Some of the patients were dressed up in superhero costumes themselves, donning capes and masks that matched the heroes on the other side of the glass.
Squeegee Cleaning Services partnered with Children’s to do the bi-annual, and made it more exciting for the young patients by wearing costumes on the job.
The hospital is holding a week of “Celebrating Our Superheroes” in honor of Childhood Cancer and Sickle Cell Awareness Month. Several superhero-themed activities and events have been planned to “celebrate the super heroic battles” the young patients face daily.
And while we don’t have any caped or masked personalities popping up, we do have a few superheroes about town when it comes to bringing awareness to the plight of childhood cancer.
Take Christy Turner Sasser, mother of leukemia survivor Cooper Sasser. Christy has made it her life mission to blanket the county in yellow shoestrings and hair bows. To help her in the family’s mission to raise money for pediatric cancer research, visit them Oct. 5 at the Kiwanis Center for “Coopie’s Color Run,” a 5K run at 7:30 a.m., and a talent show and karaoke contest later that day. I believe from this point forward I shall call her “Midas Mom” for her ability to turn “yellow” into “gold” for a good cause.
Then, let’s not forget all those who are working to raise money for Pleasant Home freshman Kennedy Cleghorn who is battling ovarian and now thyroid cancer.
Last weekend, those at the Andalusia and Enterprise Maurices stores held a bake sale to raise money for Cleghorn’s treatment and travel expenses. They shall be known as the “Cookie Crew,” while teacher Nikki Guilford and other PHS staff shall be known “Red Hot Movers.’
Beginning in October, the RHMs will have to let the PHS red move over to make way for the color teal as students and staff work to bring awareness for those suffering from ovarian cancer.
Guilford said that the Oct. 4th football game will be dedicated to Cleghorn, and the plan is to do things in style that night. Then the next day, volunteers are organizing a fashion show, and in the future, a 5K.
These women, their friends and their families prove every day that it doesn’t take a superpowers to make a difference – although, it would be fun to see a few of them run around in capes, wouldn’t it?