Superheroes give sick kids a night to remember

“The Amazing Spider-Man 3D” premiered at a benefit for the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology and the UCLA Urology Department, a week before opening to the general public in theaters.

The special event was for prominent donors to the departments and, perhaps more importantly, for the pediatric patients in them.

“The idea of Spider-Man,” explains Mark Litwin, Professor and Chair of Department of Urology, “is that a normal guy, Peter Parker, is smitten with an illness, something that makes him special, and that he is able to turn this into a power, a gift, that ends up saving the world. And this is like a metaphor for many of our kids here. It’s an important message for them.”

The evening was sponsored by producer, Avi Arad, Sherry Lansing, founder and chief executive officer of the Sherry Lansing Foundation and chairman of the University of California Board of Regents, Dr. Arie Belldegrun, director of the UCLA Institute of Urologic Oncology, and Dr. Mark S. Litwin, chairman of the UCLA Urology Department at the realD offices in Beverly Hills.

One of the goals of the evening was to let the kids have a good time and let them interact with their doctors outside of a hospital setting.

Guests mingled over a variety of healthy and kid-like snacks—celery and carrot sticks, chili, BBQ chicken sliders, mini hotdogs, mac ‘n’ cheese, and a bountiful amount of Red Vines and Twizzlers.

Additionally, the movie was meant to be inspiring, especially for the kids in attendance. The evenings guest of honor Avi Arad, a producer for “The Amazing Spider-Man 3D,” introduced the movie.

He began with an apology for the seemingly extensive security measures that required guests to part with their cell phones, or as he called them “security blankets,” before offering some inspiring words on the film.

He reiterated how the films hero, Peter Parker, was an ordinary boy who took his disease and made it into something special. Bullying is a big issue for kids today and that it can’t continue, which is a dominant theme in the movie with Peter being bullied and at moments seeming to become a bully himself.

Peter accepts the responsibly of his gifts and learns to use them for good.

The main characters in the film are scientists, including Peter and the goal is making science cool. With the aid of Spider-Man—science and intelligence end up saving the day.

Arad also made a moving appeal to the adults in the audience about keeping production and work in the country. “The Amazing Spider-Man 3D” was produced right here in Los Angeles and employed more than 3,000 people.

“You don’t need to have superpowers to be a hero,” said Arad.

The film lived up to its inspirational introduction and was met by applause from the entire theater. A reception, serving mini milkshakes, cupcakes, and coffee was held after the movie as people discussed their favorite parts of the screening.