There’s something villainous afoot in Edmonton, and the only person who can save the day is a little girl with a super-sized dream.
Watch out, here’s comes Spider-Mable.
Six-year-old Mable Tooke is battling crime across Edmonton Monday, under the guise of a Spider-Mable alter-ego she adopted in her two-year fight with leukemia.
As Mable nears the end of her cancer treatment, the Children’s Wish Foundation is staging a day-long superhero adventure across Edmonton, with the ultimate goal of rescuing Edmonton Oilers Captain Andrew Ference, who has been kidnapped by an evil villain.
Spiderman is guiding Spider-Mable on her elaborate quest, and locals are being asked to play along with the story.
She even has her own theme song.
#SpiderMable even has a theme song: https://t.co/Tru6kNWx4G
— Chris Holski (@HolskiCFRA) September 28, 2015
Organizers say the idea was inspired by cancer survivor Miles Scott, also known as “Batkid,” who gained international attention after thousands of volunteers helped transform San Francisco into Gotham City for a day in 2013.
Spider-Mable was surprised by the news Monday morning, when a newscast called for the young hero’s help.
#SpiderMable we hope you've seen this! #yeg needs you to save @EdmontonOilers Captain @Ferknuckle https://t.co/ZUfGCGUHWq @ChildrensWishAB
— Edmonton Police (@edmontonpolice) September 28, 2015
Help us #SpiderMable @ChildrensWishAB @EdmontonOilers @edmontonpolice pic.twitter.com/7mtVwD29uq
— Krista Ference (@krista_ference) September 28, 2015
She quickly geared up in a full costume and headed to city hall in a limousine to meet Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson and Spiderman, a volunteer cosplayer. With her beloved sidekick in tow, Spider-Mable rushed to police headquarters, where she was informed that she was looking for the evil Mysterio.
It's official: we're looking for Mysterio! #yeg #SpiderMable pic.twitter.com/5hx47VG6g1
— Edmonton Police (@edmontonpolice) September 28, 2015
The rest of the day includes stops at some of Mable’s favourite places, including the West Edmonton Mall Waterpark for superhero training and the Edmonton Valley Zoo, where Ference was being held captive.
Lucy hands #SpiderMable her final clue...an @EdmontonOilers hat! #yeg pic.twitter.com/jVcGnD39VH
— BreannaKarstensSmith (@BreannaCTV) September 28, 2015
She got him!!! #SpiderMable saved @Ferknuckle!! #yeg pic.twitter.com/zaE0rwQNoM
— BreannaKarstensSmith (@BreannaCTV) September 28, 2015
Mable’s mother, Lisa, says it’s a dream come true for her daughter, who often passed time between cancer treatments by reading vintage Spiderman comics from the 1960s. She says the mission across town wouldn’t have been possible back in 2013, when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
“She started to find a short walk to school to be too much for her,” Lisa said. “She had a total lack of energy and didn’t want to do anything.”
It didn’t take long for an outpouring of support to appear on social media.
Glad to know next time I'm in Edmonton I'll be safe thanks to #SpiderMable! https://t.co/Wx0ErG1Gm2
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 28, 2015
Go, #SpiderMable! We believe in you! https://t.co/xQFjYOBcZC
— Spider-Man (@SpiderMan) September 28, 2015
Thank goodness #SpiderMable is on it! #GoSpiderMableGo *cheering* *jumping* https://t.co/49Sp6xIYfc
— Bif Naked (@bifnaked) September 28, 2015
Canada is rooting for you #SpiderMable! https://t.co/GZO4EZ4Kgk
— Stephen Harper (@pmharper) September 28, 2015
Please #SpiderMable - you're our only hope! #yeg https://t.co/LxwBs0Whrj
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) September 28, 2015
Mayor @doniveson asking for assistance from #SpiderMable in finding missing Oilers Capt. @Ferknuckle! pic.twitter.com/KKHHeWOOOC
— YEG Mayor's Office (@YEGMayorOffice) September 28, 2015
Even though it's in Edmonton, this is a wonderful community initiative. Go #SpiderMable! http://t.co/Q2zPmr4Ltz
— Naheed Nenshi (@nenshi) September 28, 2015
Spider-Mable Spider-Mable Spider-quick,so strong and able Fighting crime, only six Missing Oilers? She's the fix Here comes the #SpiderMable
— Ryan Cormier (@el_cormier) September 28, 2015
Edmonton Oilers captain Andrew Ference is missing! Stand back, this is a job for #SpiderMable. http://t.co/WH6hp3pNdJ pic.twitter.com/4Rz0Z7VB0T
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) September 28, 2015
And if you want to see how #spidermable has been trending by the minute... https://t.co/T49d6UgVOS pic.twitter.com/i3HgXidrdt
— Steve Ladurantaye (@sladurantaye) September 28, 2015
Spider-Mable’s journey is being tracked on Twitter with the hashtag “SpiderMable,” and her journey is expected to wrap up around 2:45 p.m. MDT with a post-rescue celebration in the zoo’s Otter Room.
With files from CTV Edmonton