Protecting Gotham City

Picture this scene:

·      It was November 15^th, 2013.

·      The crime fighters arrived in a Lamborghini.

·      There was a damsel in distress at Hyde and Green streets.

·      Then they rushed to 550 Montgomery Street because a burgled bank vault needed to be liberated.

·      With the help of the San Francisco Police Department, the Riddler's bank robbery was foiled and he was taken into custody.

·      The Penguin locked Lou Seal, the San Francisco Giant's mascot, in a cage at AT&T Park and needed to be rescued.

·      The day ended with a ceremony at City Hall, where San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee presented the hero with a key to the city.

If you watched the news several weeks ago, a 5-year-old boy named Miles was a hero who captured peoples’ hearts. He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18-months-old and has been in remission since June. The Make-A-Wish Foundation granted him his wish to dress up as Batkid and fight crime around San Francisco, which was transformed into Gotham City for the day. Thousands of San Franciscans lined the streets where Miles and a full-sized Batman swooped into action.

When he isn’t fighting crime, Miles lives in Tulelake, California, about 25 miles from my house. Since his crime-fighting day his family has turned down many media opportunities because they want to protect his fragile health. But they also wanted to do something to capitalize on his notoriety by helping other families. They created a Batkid Fund through the Ronald McDonald house in Oregon. Miles and his family stayed in the facilities when he was getting treatment in Portland.

When we stayed in the Residence Inn last week, the elevator doors often opened on the fifth floor for people to get on or off. The wall across from the elevator didn’t look like a typical hotel hallway. It was colorfully painted with a balloon mural. The people did not look like a typical vacationer or businessperson. I was told it was the Ronald McDonald House where families stay when their children are in medical treatment.

Today’s gift was to put money in a container designated for the Ronald McDonald House in a McDonald’s restaurant. After seeing families with sick children first hand, I know how important it is for them to have a safe, convenient place to stay. We know Gotham City a.k.a. San Francisco is safe because of Miles, an alumnus of the Ronald McDonald House.

In Giving,

Robin