Have you ever have one of those ideas whereyou think it’s super cool, but then you’re floored to find out others do as well? That’swhat happened to us.
See, in 2005, our son was born with cancer. The tumor crushed his spinal cord, leaving him with limited mobility in his legs. Threeyears later, he got his first wheelchair. And come Halloween, I made him a Wall-E costume that fit around his wheelchair. It was a huge hit.
Today, this non-profit organization is dedicated to building costumes for kids in walkers and wheelchairs, free of charge to the families, made possible due to the kindness of volunteers around the nation and donations to help cover the costs.
We’ve built over 200 costumes for kids all over the nation. From Toy Story characters and modern-day superheroes to Star Wars-inspired and pretty princesses, we’ve covered the gamut in making dreams come true. We started with a Kickstarter campaign, but thanks to getting featured on the national and international levels, we now have companies and organizations wanting to sponsor and high schools wanting to build. We’ve even been featured guests at Comicons across the nation!
Currently, we have 4 different Chapters, including 2 Regions, and will be launching more Chapters very soon.
We’re now creating a network of designers and builders around the country to help construct these costumes. Ideally, we’d be able to have an individual or team who can actually go to the child and perform accurate measurements and fittings in person. A better fit means a better costume. Plus, this will help keep shipping costs down, as well.
While we’re both honored and pleased to be in such demand, we know we can’t do it alone. That’s why Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes chapters are forming nationwide. We’re continuing to look for donors and sponsors. And we’re seeking Angel investors to help with business and promotional expenses.
We’re excited for what the future may hold. Come along with us. And help us make a child’s dream come true.
Since many of these kids will be pushing around these costumes on their mobility devices, it’s important to keep the costumes lightweight. We mostly use PVC pipe for the frames, and HD Foam or Styrene for the shell of the costumes. We rarely use wood, or metal as those materials add too much weight to the overall costume.
We have designed many techniques, parts, etc. that are exclusive to Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes in order to make it very easy to get the child in/out of the costume. This allows the parents easy access to assist their child with transfers, restroom breaks, and anything else they might need.
Once we tell a child that they have been chosen to receive a costume, they are immediately excited and tell all their friends and family about what they are getting. If we build a costume that is too big and can’t fit through a standard door, then the child can’t take it to school or participate in many activities that other kids get to. We never want to do that.
(Yes, those fighter jet wings fold straight up to pass through a door)
At Walkin’ & Rollin’ Costumes, we believe every child deserves the joy of imaginative play. Discover the features that set us apart as a caring and innovative nonprofit dedicated to bringing smiles and building confidence for children who use wheelchairs or walkers.
We Couldn’t Do It Without Them
These amazing organizations have donated experience, talents, workspaces, and products to help us achieve our goal. They are fantastic companies that we are proud to partner with.
