Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the Wolrd
by Karen Pecota
Emmy award winning filmmaker, Dana Nachman teams up with San Francisco's Make-A-Wish Foundation to document five-year-old Miles Scott's dream come true in Batkid Begins: The Wish Heard Around the World. You might have seen this unfold on your national news station talking about the amazing escapade. I saw the coverage but not until I screened Nachman's documentary did I fully understand the impact and success of this major feat.
Miles had spent two-and-a half years of his early life battling leukemia. Miles had long wished to be Batman. To come to the rescue of others. To serve others. To be strong for others. When the San Francisco Make-A-Wish foundation heard about Mile's dream they too began to dream. In collaboration with Miles' parents, foundation donors, official city leaders and the people of San Francisco including many sponsors from around the world, Miles' dream materialized.
The wish: Miles would be Batkid (costume and all) and would hang-out with Batman for a whole day fighting crime. The city of San Francisco was turned into Gotham City. The whole city was in on the wish. They played it up big. Many actors were involved and everyone performed with excellence in honor of Miles. Batkid and Batman were in route to many crime fighting scenes riding in the real TV series bat-mobile all over town. Nachman's documentary played on every human emotional heart string possible telling Miles' story of hope.
The charity sponsored foundation looks for opportunities to give hope to children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. To give children the gift of "a dream-come-true" helps relieve their daily pain. It gives their families a break too. It's a welcomed escape from their reality. Nachman successfully produced a spectacular gift of love. Many will never forget the charitable expression of compassion because it is documented well. Especially Miles. Months later Miles and his family received the doctors report that his leukemia was in remission.
