Superhero Event Raises Funds, Provides Hope for Kids at Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Capes flying, muscles bulging, spandex stretching; there are superpowers in the air. From Flash to Spiderman to Wonder Woman, War Memorial Stadium is packed with kids and adults alike in bright costumes tackling an obstacle course and enjoying bounce houses, snacks, music and more. It’s the scene attendees can expect at the fifth annual Superhero Dash-N-Bash, a fundraising event put on by the Hematology/Oncology Department at Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Area coordinator for the department and event co-chair Rena Moore has been helping to put on the Dash-N-Bash since the beginning and says this year’s event is bigger than ever before, as evidenced by a new location: War Memorial Stadium.
The Dash-N-Bash features practical and meaningful ways to give back: a blood drive, a bone marrow registry and even a hair donation area. There’s also a time for remembering those who lost their fight against cancer.
“One of the things that we do is a victory walk, which is a time for the patients and families and staff to get together,” Moore said. “Then we have a memorial balloon release because for a lot of families who have lost a child or for the staff members it’s therapeutic for them.”
But the core fun of the event — the “dash” in Dash-N-Bash — is an obstacle course set up by the National Guard that attendees of all ages can attempt. Emcee Kramer from Hot 94.9 will keep the fun going and kids can jump in bounce houses, take pictures in photo booths and meet real life superheroes. Attendees are all encouraged to come in their own costumes as well.
With a goal to raise $40,000, funds will be split between several areas at ACH including the social work department, a bone marrow transplant unit currently underway at the hospital and the in-house research institute.
Moore said that every attendee can make a difference, and she hopes this event shows people that there is hope in the fight against cancer.
“Children are resilient and they just want to be kids,” Moore said. “I think whatever we can do to help them live a normal life despite going through cancer is what we owe them. These kids are superheroes and at this event they can show that.”
Click on the links below and see profiles of three childhood cancer survivors alongside Dr. David Becton, the Chief of the Hematology/Oncology unit. These individuals each show superhero strength in their unique journeys.
HALEY GLORIA
D.J. FLOWERS
4 years old (B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia)
JAKIAH COLLINS
10 years old (Stage 4 Wilms Tumor)
DR. DAVID BECTON
Chief of Arkansas Children's Hospital Hematology/Oncology Unit
Superhero Dash-N-Bash
Raising funds for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Sept. 22 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
War Memorial Stadium
$15 for ages 0-12; $25 for ages 13 and up.