Jason Sotiris (pictured) laucned Supertee with his friend Yusuf Muklis
A father who felt helpless as he watched his one-year-old daughter fight a rare cancer has created superhero costumes to help other sick children fight their health battles.
Jason Sotiris’s daughter Angela was diagnosed with Langerhans Cell Hystiocytosis, a form of cancer..
The 39-year-old, from Sydney, wanted to do more to help support his daughter and other children fighting rare and incurable diseases.
‘The superhero idea came from my son Teo, because he spent a lot time away from Angela,’ Mr Sotiri told Daily Mail Australia.
‘One day he came out of his room dressed up as Batman and I asked my him, ‘Who are we rescuing today?’ and he said ”Angela”.’
Mr Sotiri (right), along with Yusuf Muklis (left), 34, banded together to come up with an idea to help create superhero costumes, or battle armour, for sick children (middle Mr Sotiri’s daughter Angela)
Supertee won a Good Design Award and Mr Sotiri (pictured) felt that it was fitting to have his daughter with him
Mr Sotiri, along with Yusuf Muklis, 34, banded together to come up with an idea to help create superhero costumes, or battle armour, for sick children.
The pair eventually launched Supertee in June 2018 which they want to empower little heroes everywhere, fighting their own battles with illness, to have the courage to win those battles
‘That’s the goal for Supertee, I’m trying to bring a bit of fun and empowerment to the kids in hospital by adopting the Batman affect,’ Mr Sotiri told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I’m inviting them into this world of imaginative play where they can distance themselves from what they’re experiencing in the hospital and adopt the persona of a superhero.
‘During the time Angela was going through her battle I just felt so useless and helpless being sidelined.
‘Seeing my daughter going through this…no matter how many times I kissed and cuddled her it didn’t make much of a difference.’
Inspiration behind Supertee came from Teo (left) when he said he wanted to rescue Angela (in purple) (Pictured: Mr Sotiri’s children)
Hospitals around Australia have picked up the medical garments which are designed to build courage and comfort (Pictured: A child dressed in a Supertee)
Hospitals around Australia have picked up the medical garments which are designed to build courage and comfort.
Mr Sotiri expressed his gratitude towards random sponsors who have allowed him to donate free costumes to families.
‘Unfortunately, when a child is diagnosed with cancer, the parent will quit their job to look after their child.
‘On top of worrying about their child, they stress about the rent, mortgage, and the last thing they want to do is pay for a costume.
‘I think it’s nice to knock on their hospital door and giving it to them and seeing their child’s face light up.
‘It’s a way of telling them that someone believes in them, someone believes you they can fight the battle.
‘Every superhero deserves a costume.’
‘It’s a way of telling them that someone believes in them, someone believes you they can fight the battle,’ Mr Sotiri said (Pictured: Child wearing superhero costume from Supertee)
Mr Sotiri hopes that one day Supertee would become a worldwide initiative after watching his daughter beat all odds (pictured: A child wearing a superhero costume from Supertee)
Mr Sotiri hopes that one day Supertee would become a worldwide initiative after watching his daughter beat all odds.
‘It was two years of a traumatic rollercoaster seeing my daughter struggle with life.
‘She beat the odds and the idea is to grow and help contribute to research.’
Angela is now seven and cancer free.
Mr Sotiri encouraged everyone to help donate to the cause and put a smile on a child’s face.