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SANDY — There are plenty of reasons October is the greatest month in the year.
Aside from the temperate weather and most flattering wardrobe options, Halloween presents a chance to escape the realities of our day-to-day lives and enjoy a little vicarious living. A few ways to achieve escape this time of year is by losing yourself in the joy of being scared or by living the life of a costumed alter ego.
For Sebastian Bailey of Sandy, Halloween is a time of transformation.
Five-year-old Sebastian has cerebral palsy and uses a walker to get around. Two years ago, his parents created a custom Clark Kent costume — complete with phone booth — to great effect. After several years of use, according to Sebastian's mother Chantelle, it was time for something new.
Enter the Millennium Falcon mega-walker that will make all the trick-or-treaters Greedo-green with envy.
The costume Sebastian's parents made for him is no joke, including an LED lighting setup and a Bluetooth sound system that plays John Williams' famous "Star Wars" theme. Because Sebastian is non-verbal, the Falcon is equipped with a button that will speak for him, saying both the seasonal, "Trick-or-treat," and classic quippy Han quote, "Hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid."
The transformational trend seems to be catching on. Another recently popular video shows how one dad turned his son's wheelchair into the snowspeeder featured in The Battle of Hoth from "The Empire Strikes Back." His costume also has a few bells and whistles, with working flaps and guns that shoot glowing Nerf darts.
Aside from making Halloween magical for her own family, Chantelle works with the United Angels Foundation, an organization that supports families with members who have special needs. Their Pinterest board is chock-full of imaginative costume concepts for kids in walkers and wheelchairs.
It's undeniable that the force is strong with young Sebastian and his family. To learn more about the United Angels Foundation and the work they do, visit their website.
