October 1st, 2012 
Photo Credit: Crystal Zhao
“If abused kids see that other kids are superheroes, then they’ll know that they can be superheroes, too,” so said a little boy at the CASA Superhero Run. In addition to the adorable costumes, the knowledge that all the kids were striving to make a difference really made me smile.
Over 2,500 superheroes, superheroes-in-training, and even super dogs throughout Austin and its surrounding areas gathered yesterday, September 30, to fight for abused and neglected children. This year was the first time the run was hosted at Mueller Lake Park & Hangar, and it was a wonderful choice! It was the perfect location to have an area with inflatables to play on, another area for tables with all kinds of activities (e.g. making your own mask and a costume contest), and a gorgeous lake view for the runners. The entire scene at the Superhero Run was quite a spectacle.
Photo Credit: Crystal Zhao
There was even a superfamily (photo on left) with a background nothing short of superheroic – Savannah, Christina, and Wyatt the super dog. Savannah and Christina informed me that they were “Black Hawk pilots who just got back from Afghanistan” and wanted to participate in the run because “it’s charity and sounded like a lot of fun.”
The Superhero Run is put on every year by CASA of Travis County and CASA of Williamson County. The race raises funds and awareness for a nonprofit formally known as Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children (CASA). CASA provides representation for abused and neglected children in the courtroom and other areas. Together, the crime fighters from this year’s run raised over $110,000.
“There’s no other organization that I can find that does so much,” said Angel Chancellor (center of photo below on right), who is a regular volunteer with CASA and one of the three judges for this year’s costume contest (results can be viewed soon here).”It’s not just [about helping] the kids. It’s mainly the kids, but it’s the family and the whole community as well.” She told me what a typical day of volunteering with CASA may look like and it included
Photo Credit: Crystal Zhao
much more than just spending time with the kids, taking them out to feed ducks or going to Chuck E. Cheese. In addition, CASA volunteers will reach out even further, such as asking the kids’ new families to see how they can help and make everything flow more smoothly.
If you didn’t get the chance to be a superhero at this year’s run, keep your eyes and ears open for next year’s! It is a phenomenal event put on by a phenomenal nonprofit (CASA) that “believes all children deserve the chance to grow up happy and healthy and become superhero adults themselves.” Besides, wouldn’t you love to be a superhero, too?
