- Carter Lenley, a 9-year-old Utah boy diagnosed with Menkes Disease, became a superhero for a day.
- With Make-A-Wish Utah's help, he saved his grandmother from a villain's grasp at America First Field in Sandy.
- The event highlighted community support and Carter's wish for kindness and joy.
SANDY — When the world feels heavy, sports have often been an escape. But Thursday night at America First Field in Sandy, it became something more.
That's because a new superhero was in town.
His name is Spiderman MouseKnight, and his mission was to save the day.
Nine-year-old Carter Lenley, diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called Menkes disease, has always dreamed of being a superhero. With the help of Make-A-Wish Utah and a custom suit sewn by his grandmother, that dream came true.
Just before the Utah Royals soccer match on Sept. 18, Carter rode to the stadium with a motorcycle escort and police sirens blaring. He quickly gathered his superhero friends to take down villains on the field, surrounded by hundreds of people chanting his name and cheering for him.
One by one, those villains fell.
But the final boss had something more important: Carter's grandmother was being held captive, tied to a chair.
With the help of Captain America, Carter defeated the final villain and ran to untie and save his grandmother. He even used Thor's hammer to do so.
Not only did the crowd cheer, but Carter was also given an award from the Sandy Police Department for helping rid their city of crime.
"This is a moment he'll never forget," said Carter's mother, Jacque Lenley. "He's a fighter. He really chooses every day to just fight."
After the mission was complete, Carter held his own press conference from the Royals' media room, just like the pros.
"America First Field is really a gathering place. Not just for sporting events, but for celebrations," said Kyle Schroeder, the vice president of player and community engagement for the Utah Royals and Real Salt Lake. "When we get an opportunity to do something like this, to see Spiderman MouseKnight save his grandmother on the field, what else could you want?"
When asked why he did it, his answer was simple: "It's because me. It makes my heart happy."
But Carter's greatest battle is one no superhero can easily win. Menkes disease is a fatal genetic disorder with no cure.
Even still, Thursday night wasn't about illness. It was about love, joy, kindness and a community that came together to cheer on a boy who reminded them what real heroes look like.
"That's what he wants for the world, is kindness. You ask him, and every time (he says) he just wants people to be kind to each other. What a sweetheart," said Judy Lee, Carter's grandmother.
It's a reminder that, sometimes, the bravest heroes don't live in comic books.
They live among us.
