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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, July 2, 2015 | 6 Superheroes visit kids regularly at OTMH continued from p.1 "Staff love it, the kids love it, and the parents love it. And I think, at the end of the day, it brings some smiles to kids' faces, but it also helps to spread the love of reading and the love of comic books." Walton, who enjoys frequenting Comic-Con events in his movie-quality Iron Man suit, said about a year ago he and fellow comic enthusiasts, who dress up as Batman and Wonder Woman, began looking at ways they could give back to the community. Due to Walton's line of work, the group quickly settled on the idea of visiting children in hospitals, but took it a step farther in deciding to share with the children something the three friends deeply care about: comics. "We approached a number of local businesses -- for example, Comic Connection on Speers Road and Conspiracy Comics and the Hooded Goblin in Georgetown -- and all of them were onboard immediately," said Walton. "They said not only would they be willing to give us some initial comics, but they continue to provide us with comics that we deliver to kids in hospital. It has been a great success." He said individual donors also approach the group occasionally, with one man giving them 4,000 comics. Walton said the man's wife wanted the comics out of the basement and he did not want to throw them out or go through the trouble of selling them. Walton described the reaction the superheroes get upon visiting OTMH as "amazing." "With the kids, some of the rst reactions are just awe," he said. "They can't believe that a superhero is there visiting them.... "We spend about two hours in the hospital just getting our pictures taken with people and it really does bring a sense of joy to the whole organization." Walton said parents also enjoy the visits as they lift their child's spirits and their spirits at what could potentially be a very dif cult time for the family. The comics the superheroes bring are also a big hit. Walton said the group hands out ageappropriate comics to the children, who range in age from three to well into their teens. Some parents who have a long-standing enjoyment of comics, or who need something to keep their mind busy during their hospital stay, Spotlight "Connected to your Community" The members of Comic Corps visit children, who are patients at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital (OTMH), every other Thursday and hand out comic books detailing their characters' adventures. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/HaltonPhotog) also avail themselves of the reading material. Walton said the comic books have a positive impact on the children at OTMH in a couple of different ways. "Comic books are often people's rst entry into the world of literature. As kids, we kind of gravitate towards these colourful pages and sometimes this is a child's rst introduction into storytelling," said Walton. "One of the other things we know is that happier patients are healthier patients. When you create a positive healing environment for people, they get better faster. "Attitude contributes to healing and we believe, and I think the nurses would say as well, whatever you can do to make people happy, They just can't believe that a superhero is there visiting them.... We spend about two hours in the hospital just getting our pictures taken with people and it really does bring a sense of joy to the whole organization. Halton Healthcare Services / aka Iron Man Mark Walton to create smiles and ultimately to help them feel better about their stay is going to result in a better healing experience and get them home where they want to be." When asked why the superhero group does what it does, Walton noted it is fun to dress up as the superheroes kids read about or watch in movies and brighten their day. The Comic Corps of Canada is always looking for comics books to take to the hospital and anyone interested in donating can contact the group at www.comiccorps.ca. No bat signal required. Walton said that when a member of the Comic Corps comes to pick up donated comics, they do it in full costume. NEIL OLIVER Vice ­President and Group Publisher DAVID HARVEY Regional General Manager JILL DAVIS Halton Region Editor in Chief Volume 53 | Number 52 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allowance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize advertisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is protected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Editorial Department (905) 845-3824 Advertising Department (905) 845-3824 Classi ed Advertising (905) 632-4444 Circulation: 5300 Harvester Rd., Burlington (905) 631-6095 DANIEL BAIRD Director of Advertising ANGELA BLACKBURN Managing Editor