PLANO, Texas — A 4-year-old boy in a Spider-Man outfit paraded through St. Mark Catholic School in Plano on Wednesday, vanquishing villains and rescuing fellow superheroes. But the effort by students at the school was all about rescuing him.
Beckett Butcher, part of his journey through the school on a specially-made Spider-Man tricycle as students stood in the hallways and cheered, has had a difficult first four years. Born with a congenital heart defect has meant open heart surgery each summer of his four years.
So, the kids at St. Mark, in their Make-A-Wish tradition, lined the hallways and cheered as Beckett went room to room "knocking out" students dressed like Marvel and DC villains and "rescuing" his fellow superheroes like Batman and Thor. Beckett's mom and his four older sisters followed him on the journey through the campus with their own Super Mom and Super Sis capes the school gave them.
"I hope they get out of it just a love for serving," St. Mark teacher Stacy Oliver said of her students. The 7th and 8th grade classes sponsor a Make-A-Wish child every two years. "Planning each room and coming up with the details then actually getting to act today and to see the joy in this family's face."
"Especially since we're a Catholic school, I feel like this really embodies who we are and what we do for others," said student Catalina Mora.
“The 7th and 8th grade students at St. Mark Catholic School in Plano are incredible,” said Principal Pam Steinkirchner. “Over the last two school years, they’ve raised just over $11,000 for a fantastic Make-A-Wish reveal for a precious little boy.”
That reveal was a surprise to Beckett, and from the tears shed, apparently to his two youngest sisters as well. The money raised, and revealed to Beckett in a puzzle he had to put together at the end of his tour through the school, spelled out an all-expense paid family vacation to Disney World.
"This was over the top and every aspect was thought out amazing," said Beckett's mom Sarah Butcher. "I cannot thank this school enough."
The gesture lets the students at St. Mark see the results of service in action. And, for the Butcher family, this will be their first family vacation since Beckett was born. And it will be his first plane ride ever.
"We leave tomorrow morning at 6:20 a.m.," Beckett's mom suddenly realized. "So, ready or not, we are headed to Disney!"
A 4-year-old superhero and his family headed to Disney, blessed with the knowledge that a community of complete strangers is doing its best to help save him.