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SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake Comic Con has been drawing record crowds to Salt Lake City the past couple days, and Friday was the convention's biggest party. But it wasn't just about celebrity meet-and-greets and costumes — the party had a purpose.
A portion of Friday's ticket sales will go to Millie's Princess Foundation in support of the tiniest little superheros in our community fighting a difficult battle with cancer.
If people take a walk in the exhibit hall of Salt Lake Comic Con, they see it all. But among the cosplay and huge exhibits, they'll find princesses posing for charity near a small booth adorned with photographs of small, smiling faces.
"This foundation was created to help families financially, but also bring awareness to the world of childhood cancer," said Amanda Flamm, vice president of Millie's Princess Foundation.
Flamm lost her own little princess to cancer in June of last year. Some might remember Millie. She's the little girl whose wish to meet Justin Bieber went viral on social media. It was a wish that was granted just months before she died. Millie didn't just love Bieber: "She loved princesses and comics of all kind," Flamm said.
Flamm knows all too well the financial burden that comes with fighting cancer and how it puts a child's dreams on hold. That's where professional photographer Jon Diaz came in: "My goal is to try and inspire these kids and help them know they can overcome their cancer and that anything is possible," Diaz said.
One by one, he's making these kids' dreams come true one photograph at a time.
He teamed up with Millie's Princess Foundation to create the Anything Can Be project. He asks a child with cancer what his or her dream is, and he creates it with the click or a camera and the magic of technology.
"She was told she would never be able to run or dance again," he said as he holds a photograph of a young girl with cancer seemingly dancing in air. "They need help. They need hope and inspiration. That's really what this project is all about."
Comic Con organizers heard about the fantasy-meets-reality project and wanted to help and pledged a portion of the party's proceeds to go to the charity: "Millie's Princess Foundation is dear to our hearts because it's such a great cause," Salt Lake Comic Con co-founder Bryan Brandenburg said.
Even though Friday night's party was all about fun and make believe, every person who went through the door also helped a child with cancer fight the battle of his or her life while still living his or her dreams.
