SFPD Chief Suhr to participate in "Bat-Kid" Make-A-Wish SF Event
Press Release from Make-A-Wish:
Five Year Old Leukemia Survivor to Become Batkid for a Day as San Francisco is Turned into Gotham City.
WHAT: Miles’ Wish to Be Batman
WHERE: San Francisco, various locations
WHEN: Friday, November 15, 2013
DETAIL:
Five year old Miles from Tulelake in Siskiyou County loves superheroes, and is rarely seen not wearing a costume of one of his idols. Chief among his heroes is Batman. After fighting his own battle with leukemia since he was a year old, Miles has emerged triumphant and is now in remission. The port that had been inserted into his chest to deliver medicines was removed last month and the bright, positive boy started kindergarten this year.
When asked what he wanted for his wish, he took everyone by surprise when he said he wanted to be Batman. Our young crime fighter has no idea what is in store for him when he gets his wish on November 15th in San Francisco. Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area will be turning the entire city into Gotham City for Miles, aka Batkid. Dozens of people have been working to make his wish come true, and thousands of San Franciscans and well-wishers from near and far will be joining Miles as he celebrates the end of his treatment and his day of heroics in a ceremony at City Hall presided over by San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee. “This wish has meant closure for our family and an end to over three years of putting toxic drugs in our son’s body” says Miles’ mom, Natalie. “This wish has become kind of a family reunion and is our celebration of his treatment completion.”
INTERVIEWS: While we would love to be able to offer media access to everyone, we also want to be sensitive to Miles and making this wish experience comfortable for him. As he is just five years old and somewhat shy, we don’t want him to be overwhelmed by his big day. We have also been putting together a very fun and full itinerary for him while he is in San Francisco, so there is limited time for us to offer interviews throughout the day.
However, we will be holding a press conference immediately after the ceremony at City Hall, and there will be an opportunity then to talk to both Miles’ parents and Miles himself, provided he’s not feeling too shy. If you would like to interview someone from Make-A-Wish, please contact Jen Wilson at [email protected].
SCHEDULE: Grand Hyatt, Union Square Miles departs hotel in batmobile after answering the Chief of Police’s call for help. Exits building through loading dock area located between Williams-Sonoma and the former Levi’s store on Post Street between Powell and Stockton Approximately 10:00 am.
Hyde and Green Damsel in distress is rescued from the Hyde Street cable car line on the 1900 block of Hyde, between Green and Union streets Approximately 10:15-10:35 am.
Bank Vault 550 Montgomery Batman and Batkid apprehend the Riddler, who is in the middle of robbing a vault. The Riddler is carted off in an SFPD paddy wagon Approximately 11:15-11:30 am.
Lunch at Burger Bar While Batkid is enjoying lunch, a flashmob in Union Square alerts Batkid that Lou Seal has been kidnapped by the Penguin and Lou Seal drive off toward AT&T park in an open car. Approximately 12:35-12:50 pm.
AT&T Park Batman and Batkid chase the Penguin around the Promenade level of AT&T park, going through the cable car, down the Coke bottle slide, and ending up near the miniature ball park. Lou Seal is tied up there, and our heroes rescue him. They go down to the field to watch a message on the Jumbotron from the Chief of Police, inviting them to City Hall where the mayor is waiting to give them the key to the city. Approximately 1:10-1:45 pm.
For media access to AT&T park, please enter the park through the Media Gate located next to the Giants Dugout Store off of Third Street. You will need to have identification from your media outlet to gain entrance to the park. A member of the Giants staff will be at the gate with their security checking IDs.
City Hall, Civic Center Plaza Mayor's Presentation will take place between 2 and 2:30pm; a press conference with Miles, his parents, the Chief of Police, etc. immediately follows at Civic Center Plaza.
MEDIA ASSETS: A photo of Miles is attached. You are welcome to use it and you may credit Make- A-Wish® Greater Bay Area. B-roll footage and photos from the wish day will be available at sf.wish.org/sfbatkid.
SOCIAL MEDIA: With the help of Clever Girls Collective and Twitter, we will be unveiling the wish in real time. Follow #SFBatKid (Twitter & Instagram), @SFWish & @PenguinSF
About Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area: Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy. In 2013 Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area embarked on 29 years of fulfilling magical wishes. During its first year of operation, in 1984, the chapter granted 27 wishes. Now one of the largest chapters nationwide, the Greater Bay Area grants over 300 wishes per year and has granted over 6,000 wishes to date. The chapter covers 17 Northern California counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, Marin, Monterey, San Benito, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, Siskiyou, Solano and Sonoma. The goal of Make-A-Wish is to grant a wish to every eligible child in its territory. Anyone can suggest a child for a wish. For more information or to refer a child for a wish, please call 415/982-9474 or visit Make-A-Wish® Greater Bay Area website.