On Monday, October 14 we invited SOAR participants to their very own Comic-Con here in the Walla Walla Valley. Since most major Comic-Cons are normally held in larger metropolitan areas like Seattle, most of our community won’t get to experience them. Hosting our own gave us an opportunity to provide them with as authentic an experience as we could possibly get without creating a stressful environment.
Everyone was encouraged to wear a costume for the event. By the end of the night everyone would vote on who had the best costume. Comic books layed scattered on different tables free for anyone to grab and take home. Most of the comic books given to us were generously provided by the nonprofit “ComicBooks For Kids” whose goal is to provide comic books to children who are in the hospital, fighting cancer, or have special needs. Games were also available for our participants to play throughout the night. Prizes were even given to those who participated in some of those games which included Uno, Bingo, or even lightsaber duels.
Our special guests for the night was the "Wolves of Terra" cosplay group led by Jacob and Alicia. The Wolves of Terra often perform charity work while dressed in Star Wars costumes, and will often provide entertainment for certain events. Their organization is dedicated to bringing people together through a shared love of Star Wars and pop culture. Dawning their armor, they fought our participants in one-on-one lightsaber duels for the chance to win a multitude of Star Wars themed prizes. Although their battles had left them exhausted, it was an experience they heavily enjoyed.
Although it was nowhere close to the size and scale of most other Comic-Cons, it brought so much joy to everyone involved. Memories were made that will undoubtedly last a lifetime. The overwhelming amount of support from both ComicBooks For Kids and the Wolves of Terra was heartwarming to witness. It was our combined efforts and passion that made this a truly one of a kind event.
Special Thanks: Wolves of Terra & ComicBooks For Kids
