Superhero Santas go shopping for kids of Children’s Mercy Hospital

Supergirl, Thor, Iron Man, Snow White and other comics heroes added Christmas bells to their super uniforms Sunday and became shoppers for kids at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

A fundraiser by Elite Comics in Overland Park had raised more than $15,000 and called on the superheroes team to go on a spending spree at Target in Mission, Kan.

“It means a lot,” said Captain America, otherwise known as Jerry Holtorf of Overland Park.

Holtorf’s parents battled cancer and in his many trips to their hospital he saw children in their own fights against the disease — compelling his wish to help children at Children’s Mercy.

“Cancer doesn’t discriminate in age,” Holtorf said. “What (his parents) were going through in their room, a 6- or 7-year-old was going through in the next room and it breaks your heart.”

The caped crusaders summoned a rental trailer to cart away their packages, bound for children in the hospital. And if anyone wants to join the crusade, there are still opportunities ahead.

“We’re not done,” Elite Comics owner William Binderup said. “It doesn’t end until Dec. 22, so you can go to Elite Comics (at 119th Street and Quivera Road) and bring new, unwrapped toys or cash because we’re going to do another run before Christmas.”

This story was originally published December 10, 2017 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Superhero Santas go shopping for kids of Children’s Mercy Hospital."