5-year-old leukemia patient set to become ‘Batkid’ and save San Francisco from crime

SAN FRANCISCO – Crooks beware! Batkid will be fighting crime Friday in the mean streets of San Francisco.

With the help of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the city, 5-year-old Miles Scott, aka Batkid, will rescue a woman from cable car tracks and capture the evil Riddler as he robs a downtown bank.

A flash mob will then summon the leukemia patient for another caper — the diabolical kidnapping of the San Francisco Giants mascot — Lou Seal — by the Penguin.

A grateful mayor Ed Lee will give Miles a key to the city after the crooks are corralled.

KGO-TV says Miles doesn’t know what’s in store for him and thinks he’s in San Francisco just to get a Batman costume so he can dress like his favourite superhero.

Miles, who lives in Tulelake in far Northern California, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old, ended treatments in June and is in remission.

His father, Nick Scott, thanked the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation and the estimated 7,000 people who will help make his son’s wish come true.

“All the doctors, nurses and all the other parents that have to deal with the same thing we’re going through. I hope they get a conclusion to their illnesses like we’re getting,” Nick Scott told the station.

Make-A-Wish has fulfilled similar wishes across the country. In Anaheim, a child became Batman’s sidekick, Robin; and in Seattle a child was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson. a spokeswoman for the local organization.

The San Francisco Chronicle, KGO-TV and thousands of volunteers are participating in the event. Miles will see a broadcast from in the morning with Police Chief Greg Suhr calling for his help.

The Chronicle will distribute special-edition newspapers with the headline, “Batkid Saves City,” in Union Square, where the flash mob will gather, Someone has even provided a Lamborghini to serve as the Batmobile, the station said.

“This has turned into a full blown phenomenon,” Suhr said Thursday.

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AP writer Channing Joseph contributed to this story.