LONDON: A London hospital took part in an initiative that fulfilled the dreams of child cancer patients from the Gulf region, by producing a film that saw them transform into their superhero alter-egos.
The exciting campaign was launched by Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (GOSH) in London for children from the region who are receiving treatment for cancer and blood disorders.
The Superhope campaign has helped six children with cancer at the London hospital change into their favorite superheroes in a bid to boost their positive mental attitude.
It started by asking the children “if you were a superhero, how would you imagine yourself?” The answers were captured by best-selling London comic book artist, Amrit Birdi, who visited GOSH to transform these answers and sketch out the children’s imagination onto a page.
These sketches, unbeknown to the children, were transformed into real-life costumes by children’s costume studio. And a professional photo and video shoot were used to produce a documentary film and trailer of the child patients.
Guests and family members at the screening saw the patients as superheroes for the first time.
Initially launched in Dubai in 2014, Superhope creators, Tarik Batal and Basma Masri, have since then taken the initiative to different places around the world, including the UK and US.
It works on spreading the awareness of the importance of positive thinking to help children on the road to recovery when fighting complex conditions.
“What an incredible experience it was to have worked with the children at GOSH, and witness their journey transforming into the Superheroes they really are. They were fearless, creative, strong and full of positive life,” said Masri and Batal.
GOSH treats 1,500 children from the Middle East every year for rare and specialist conditions.
