Most Cosplayers get together dressed up as their favourite comic or movie characters as a hobby. But a group of local Star Wars fans spends their free time visiting children in government hospitals - in full costume.
Darth Vader led his motley crew of a Jedi Knight, a TIE Fighter Pilot and a Clone Trooper - complete with lightsabres - into a children’s ward at Princess Margaret Hospital recently to surprise the young patients there.
The Star Wars fans admit it can be overwhelming at first for the younger ones to see Darth Vader march into their ward - a couple of toddlers cried, but once their parents told them what was going on, everyone started having a good time.
The cast of characters briefly explained who they were to the patients and their families. Then everyone joined in a Star Wars quiz so the children could win toys donated by the official manufacturer. They posed for photos and hugs, and even engaged in a tame lightsaber fight with some of the kids.
The real deal
The costumes cannot be found in a local fancy dress shop. They are home-made, but they must be screen accurate and approved by the Rebel Legion – a Star Wars costuming fan club. One of the legion’s mission pledges is to give back to the community through charity and volunteer work.
The young patients were getting as close to the real deal as the films. The Jedi Knight and TIE Fighter Pilot characters sourced their props from Argentina and Germany, just as the Star Wars costumiers had done.
But it does not come cheap. The average cost of the Jedi Knight’s costume including the lightsaber is about $3,000. For a Stormtrooper and a Clone Trooper, it can get more expensive as they have armour. It can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $14,000 to make.
Putting smiles on faces
Imagine being a child stuck in hospital all day, when suddenly, characters straight out of the movies walk into your ward. Helping the children forget, for a moment, that they are in hospital is why Darth and his friends do it.
One of the Star Wars good Samaritans, whose TIE Fighter Pilot character is supposed to be a “baddie”, said the most rewarding part was to see a child’s face light up when they walk in.
“We’re not the medicine that can help them get better, but we’re the ones that inspire them to give them hope and strength. The first Star Wars movie is called A New Hope, I guess we’re the new hope for the children,” the TIE Fighter Pilot explained.
According to the ward staff, the visits are beneficial to the children who are often bored in their hospital rooms and have to go through medical procedures and tests.
“They probably feel frightened and anxious surrounded by strangers, so seeing these characters helps reduce their anxiety level,” one nurse said.
All this time and effort proves that Cosplay is not just a matter of dress up.
Of course, there is the added bonus of discovering that Darth Vader has a heart after all.
