This week, members of the Pittsburg Police Benefit Association made a contribution to Heart of a Hero while thanking Ricky Mena, who is Spider-Man, for his efforts and encourage him to continue his mission of cheering up sick kids across the nation.
Photo provided by Ricky Mena, Heart of a Hero
Heart of a Hero is a non-profit out of Pittsburg where Mena dresses up as Spider-Man and visits with youths who homeless, special needs, foster and both children battling life threatening illnesses and kids who are terminally ill. The goal is to bring joy to youth in need.
Mena visits youths across the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento area and is now making trips around the country and even into Canada.
Mena explained that Pittsburg Police Sergeant Joe Terry reached out to him via Instagram and asked him to come down to the station. Mena says when he arrived, they presented him with a generous donation.
“They wanted me to know that all the officers in the association had a donation. After I left Santa Clare Kaiser, Thursday night, I met them and they gave me a check. They told me they love what I do and follow Heart of a Hero and are overjoyed with the posts and happiness that my team and I bring all over the nation,” says Mena.
Photo by Heart of a Hero. Mena says hugs are the best medicine and everyone needs one, especially children in need.
He further highlighted they want to try and make a larger donation in the future and get him in front of more kids while encouraging him to keep going. There is also talk in the future of a joint event since he is based out of Pittsburg.
He is also thankful for the law enforcement support both locally and across the country.
“The support from law enforcement has been major in engaging more of the Contra Costa communities especially after the Pittsburg Police Department officers reached out and so graciously helped out my foundation,” says Mena. “The San Francisco Police Department has also worked alongside me at UCSF San Francisco and their support has been monumental as well. It just feels good to be honored by people I view as the real heroes.”
Mena says he never imaged Heart of Hero would turn out to be as successful as it is. He explained the idea started after his grandmother showed up in a dream and told him to put on a Spider-Man suit.
After the dream, Mena purchased his first Spider-Man suit for $1,400. Since he is on his 7th suit, the person making the suits has cut the cost to $800 per suit. He says the puts a lot of wear-and-tear on his suits so he had to keep buying them out of pocket.
He says with 7 suits, he can have a rotation while sometimes they are sent for repairs.
“I never imaged this. When I first bought my first suit, I sold my luxury car because it was the only luxury thing I had worth anything. I fell from grace, I had this dream where my grandmother came to me and showed me I needed to be Spider Man. I took it literally, and Heart of a Hero started with a pile of cloths and a one piece suit,” explained Mena. “I never thought in a million years this was something I would do. I thought it would be a part-time thing. When the images started surfacing on social media and saw the reactions. I saw the parents smiling from their kids smiling. It really empowered me and was something bigger than me. I put my head down and did it. I have said yes to every single visit and pushed my personal life aside because it makes me feel good.”
Mena highlighted that at the two year mark, there is a lot of emotional attachment, especially those who passed away. He has consoled parents and even carried caskets as Spider Man. He has also been at hospital when kids pass away.
Photo by Heart of a Hero shows Spider man with Christian, who was 11 years old. Shortly after a bond was made, Christian passed.
“It’s emotionally draining at times,” says Mena. “In the last week two kids have passed away after I visited. As tough as it is, all the parents are sad but pat me on the back and say that you have to keep going because you made my child so happy. I don’t see myself doing anything else.”
In two-years’ time, he says he has visited more than 7,000 children across the county and in Canada. He still says his first visit sticks out to him because it was also the first terminally ill child he met who has ever passed away.
“I always go back to the first terminal child I met who was also the first child who ever passed away that I met as Spidy. His name was Charlie Degrange and he battled a terminal form of brain cancer known as DIPG. Every moment was a wow moment with him. From him donating all his birthday toys to Spider-Man so I could help more kids like I helped him, to him standing to hug me being the last time he ever took steps, to him having the rosary beads I gave him wrapped around his hands in his coffin,” says Mena. “His strength through it all changed me. Since he passed December 6th 2015, I’ve worn his wrist band over my Spider-Man suit EVERY single time I’ve put it on. That will never change.”
Spider Man participates in Antioch 4th of July parade.
He says having visited 7,000 sick children opened his eyes to just how many sick children we have in this country. He says the past two years have changed him for the better.
“It’s changed me in every way possible. Seeing so many children hurt and surrounding families go through so much gave life a new perspective for me. It’s humbled me. I’m more compassionate. In short, it’s made me a better man and human being,” explained Mena. “I wasn’t prepared for how tough this all would be mentally. I didn’t expect things to blow up to the level it has. I’m still learning how to cope every single day. With every child I see hurting, I feel something. With every child that passes, I feel like I’ve lost a best friend. Truthfully, seeing children happy because I’m there brings me back to life. So do the success stories.”
Still, Mena is proud of the impact he is having on children and families lives saying he receives letters from all over the world. He says it reinforces his want and desire to help more kids.
“I am blessed to be able to travel the country and visit with kids and help make the smile,” say Mena.
Donation:
For more information on Heart of a Hero, visit them at www.heartofahero.org. You may also follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
To make a donation and help Spidy reach more children, visit https://www.gofundme.com/spidey4kids.
