Children in wheelchairs soar like superheroes in Durham
A non-profit organization from Oregon helped a trio of Durham children soar to superhero heights.
Magic Wheelchair visited N.C. Comicon on Saturday to create special wheelchair costumes.
Mythbusters guest host and N.C. Comicon regular Tamara Robertson helped bring the non-profit to the Bull City event this year. The N.C. native was first introduced to Magic Wheelchair by former Mythbusters co-host Adam Savage.
"I went to see him at San Diego Comicon and he connected me with Magic Wheelchair to see if I could help as a builder," Robertson said. "From there I have been helping them set up databases of builders and makers in the communities that they want to help kiddos in."
After finding out the group hadn't been to North Carolina but several children in the state had submitted applications for costumes, Robertson went on a mission.
"It was a match made in heaven," she said.
Costumes were designed with each child's interests in mind. The looks were revealed during an event Saturday afternoon hosted by Robertson at the Carolina Theatre of Durham.
"The kiddos are the bosses," Robertson said. "They say this is what I want, this is what I like. The designers will come up with a concept and they'll share it with the kiddos. If the kiddos like it then they are good to start building, if not they go back to the drawing board."
The children chose designs centered around superheroes and science fiction movies. Designs included Batman in his bat mobile, Wolverine on the Cyclops' motorcycle and Kylo Ren's Tie fighter from Star Wars. All of the costumes were equipped with light effects and two of them also featured sound.
One of the most famous sound effects was Batman's well-known slogan. "I'm Batman!"
Lucas Bloodworth, 9, has Axonal Motor Neuropathy, which causes Muscular Dystrophy. He was overjoyed to ride around in his new "Bat Mobile."
"Most of the ladies in the audience were crying," Kathryn Bloodworth said when his costume was revealed. "He was so excited. He's been excited about this for a week."
Lucas and the other recipients were involved in a parade on the convention floor to show off their new costumes.
