Sending Superman on tour to inspire hope in those who need it the most. Please read and donate if you can….below is some info from his site.
What is Hospital Heroes?
Hospital Heroes is an exciting new charitable endeavor in which I, Dustin Dorough, will be hitting the road to visit at least one children’s hospital in every one of the 48 continental United States and two Canadian provinces while wearing my movie quality Superman uniform.
During these visits, the children will receive:
- An autographed 8×10 picture of Superman (Thanks to Superhero Photography by Adam Jay www.superherophotography.co.uk )
- A “Certificate of Heroism” in recognition for the bravery exhibited in their personal struggles and all those that they have been able to inspire with their strength in fighting their illnesses.
- A chat with the “real” Superman, photo opportunities, etc. I will be 100% in character the entire time.
- The most important thing a hero can give: Hope.
Who is Dustin Dorough?
I’m a 25 year old Superman fan, actor, costumer and general do-gooder. I’ve been active in the costuming community since 2007, though I was born on Halloween, so I’ve been wearing costumes most of my life. I’m just a comic nerd who wants to share the joy that my heroes brought to me as a child with a younger generation. When I’m not wearing spandex, you can find me working as an emcee for the Spartan Race series (www.spartanrace.com).
Where is the money going?
15,000 miles will be around 652 gallons of fuel in my 2009 Dodge Caliber, which gets around 23 miles per gallon. Estimating around $3.75 per gallon, that brings us to around $2500. I’ve alotted myself $25 per day for food, though I’m trying to get by on less. For a trip that is likely to be 100 days, that’s another $2500. The base costs of the materials to be given to the children is $1000. The extra $500 is to cover the Indiegogo and PayPal fees.
I’m asking for the bare minimum cost to cover the expenses of food, fuel and materials to give away to the children. Unfortunately, a 15,000 mile road trip can get expensive, especially when over the course of three months. To save money, I am willing to sleep in my car nightly and shower using my nationwide LA Fitness membership. If I were to stay in a cheap motel ($40) each night, it would cost nearly $4000 for lodging alone. Though, hopefully I will be able to borrow the sofas of some nice people along the way. If the fundraising exceeds expectations, I will stay in an inexpensive hotel from time to time.
If I DON’T meet the fundraising goal, then the trip will just have to be shorter. I’m visiting as many children’s hospitals as I can with however much I’m able to raise, no matter how long or short the journey may be.
Why are you doing this?
I’m going on this trip to brighten the lives of thousands of children who are in such desperate need of hope. I feel that the most important duty of any superhero is not so much saving people directly, but rather in inspiring them to save themselves.
The character of Superman has had a profound impact on my life and the way I view the world. He’s a man with the power to rule the world, but instead chooses to serve it. He lost his home planet, but chooses to protect ours. He has every reason to be angry, but he lives to inspire others with the sheer power of hope. I feel like Superman is exactly what these kids need when dealing with such intense struggles of their own.
I also often see individuals who truly wish to do great things for others in the most selfless of ways, but unfortunately we live in a world where kindness is immediately cause for ridicule. Far too often do I see someone with good intentions hold back for fear of embarrassment. As part of this tour, I want to help inspire all those who hear of it to remind them that old-fashioned kindness still has a place in the modern world. I want to remind them that it’s still okay to be a good person.
How can I help?
Monetary donations are certainly appreciated, but I do fully understand that times are tough for a lot of people and they might not be able to give as freely as they would like to.
I will be setting up a P.O. Box next week so that I will be able to receive tangible donations as well. Useful things would be gift cards you hadn’t planned on using, gas cards, etc. You can also just send me a letter if you wish.
You can find a list of other ways to help on my Facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/notes/dustin-dorough-official/hospital-heroes-how-you-can-help/10151047509598798
Right now, the most important thing is getting the word out and sharing this Indiegogo page with as many people as you can. The more traffic this site gets, the more likely that I will be able to go on this journey to help these kids.
Posted by actionfigurecanada 
