Batman to the rescue

A sick boy's wish to be a superhero came true; so, too, can the dreams of other children.

As Hillary Clinton famously noted, it takes a village to raise a child. But what happens when an entire city, a nation, even the whole world, joins in? Miles Scott, a five-year-old leukaemia patient from Northern California, found out over the weekend when the Make-A-Wish Foundation turned his obsession with a comic-book superhero into reality.

The foundation created dramatic scenarios around San Francisco – rebadged “Gotham City” for the day – to help Miles battle Batman’s greatest enemies, the Penguin and the Riddler. Hundreds of people turned out to watch as “Batkid” saved a damsel in distress and joined Batman for a spin in a Lamborghini that had been converted into a Batmobile.

The San Francisco Police lent a hand and even President Barack Obama sent Miles a supportive tweet and video message. The whole event went viral around the globe, dominating social media.

Miles Scott’s wish certainly came true, but there are many other children who are suffering life-threatening diseases who have their own dreams. While the extravagance of the San Francisco event cannot be repeated everywhere, every young life is precious and every sick child deserves all the love and support the rest of us can provide.