Batman Runs Marathon for Sick Children

You’d think Bruce Wayne wouldn’t have to raise money for a children’s charity being a billionaire and all. But the Batman that has been running in the Scotiabank Toronto marathon is just a regular guy who wants to make a difference the only way he can.

39 year old J.P. Hernandez has been running the race since 2013 to benefit SickKids – the charity organization he credits for saving him from a burst appendix he suffered as a child.

"The caped crusader said he owes his life to SickKids and spent years looking for a way to give back, but simply donating seemed too impersonal.Two years ago he read about people in Pittsburgh donning superhero costumes and cleaning the windows of a children’s hospital to cheer up the occupants.“I chose Batman because he’s a human being. He wasn’t given powers from another planet or bit by a radioactive spider,” he said. “Everything he does comes out of his will to endure.”Hernandez combined his two loves, comic books and running, added in a little homegrown handiwork and produced a costume even Bruce Wayne’s butler Alfred would be proud of."

Now his efforts have inspired an entire movement in Toronto. He no longer runs alone.

"After just one race the idea caught on and last year he was joined by the Justice League Runners, who all dress up as their favourite heroes and complete 42 gruelling kilometres for a cause.Competing in only three races thus far the team has managed to raise more than $8,000 for the hospital and its patients who Hernandez insists are the real heroes."

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