Superheroes Descend On St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital In Bayside

BAYSIDE, NEW YORK - Look up in the Sky! Who’s that rappelling from the roof of St. Mary’s Hospital in Bayside?! It’s Batman! Spiderman! Captain America! And Bat Girl!

The NYPD Emergency Services Unit gave the long-term pediatric patients at St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital quite a sight, when they dressed up as everyone’s favorite superheroes and descended the hospital’s exterior on Nov. 3.

The kids also dressed in their favorite superhero costumes and got to hang out with the dogs from the K-9 units and horses from the mounted units.

The event was co-hosted by “With Arms Wide Open,” an NYPD charity founded by NYPD Officer Merritt Riley, a 27-year veteran, to serve the families of children with complex medical issues. They have donated over $200,000 and raised over $350,000 for use with specialized travel equipment and medical needs.

In an interview after the event, Riley, whose son has cerebral palsy and is part of the hospital’s home service, said he was inspired to create this event when he realized how lucky he was to have an such an emotional support system in his life.

When starting the program, he thought that with approximately 30,000 officers in the NYPD, some of them must need similar support.

Riley, 52, has been running this program with his partner Danny Sprague, 50, for the past five years. Sprague used to be part of the Emergency Service Unit and was able to coordinate the event with the NYPD.

“We wanted to give back to the hospital. We wanted to give something nice to the kids and make them smile,” Riley said.

St. Mary’s Healthcare System for Children is the only provider of pediatric long-term and rehabilitative care in the region.

Photos courtesy of Risa Heller Communications