The fundraising team at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals is hoping for a Marvel-lous response to the running of its second annual National Superhero Day next Friday (28th April) after last year’s inaugural Marvel inspired event raised £3,605 for its Children’s Appeal.
Fundraiser Lucy Clark said: “Never in our wildest dreams did we expect our National Superhero Day to take off like it did. We were overwhelmed by the level of support from local nurseries, schools, businesses, individuals and our colleagues within the Trust, who went to great lengths to dress up as their favourite superheroes for the day to raise funds for the Children’s Appeal.
“We’re hoping everyone will remember the fun they had last year and do the same again this year!”
The day was adopted by the charity team as a fun way to help boost the Children’s Appeal, which is raising£1 million to buy a range of equipment to make children’s in and out-patients at the Royal Preston Hospital, plus waiting and treatment areas used by children at other local centres managed by the Trust, better and more comfortable.
National Superhero Day first launched in the USA in 1995 when employees of Marvel Comics came to work dressed as Iron Man, Captain America, Wolverine and other of the company’s comic strip heroes.
They wore their costumes in tribute to all those working for the good of their local community either through their job or by volunteering. Now the dress up day is copied annually worldwide.
Lucy said: “Although National Superhero Day is now a designated day in the UK and falls next Friday, we won’t be tying supporters down to just then. Last year’s National Superhero Day fell around the same time but we were still having individuals and groups organising dress-ups, superhero themed cake sales and masked and caped welly walks until the end of May.
“Also, not all superheroes wear Lycra. Some of them wear the white coat of a doctor or the uniform of a nurse, fire fighter or soldier. The costume brief is therefore quite extensive!”
To find out more about National Superhero Day and the Children’s Appeal plus to register to take part, go to: https://lthcharity.org.uk/get-involved-nhs/fundraising-events/national-superhero-day-2023/