Young Angela Sotiris was only twelve months old when the doctors told her parents that she had a rare form of cancer. Now her father is on a fierce campaign so children in similar situations can fight their diseases equipped with the strength of their superheroes.

Jason Sotiris, co-founder of the ‘Supertee project’, is a father determined to fight the psychological strain severe diseases put on children.

The ‘Supertee Project’, funded by the Fair Fight Foundation (not-for-profit charity), supplies sick children with superhero-themed medical garments to replace the standard hospital gowns.

The charity operates via the donations of people as well as volunteers who help pack and deliver Supertees to various hospitals across Australia.

Mr Sotiris was inspired to co-create this charity in June 2018 by his daughter, Angela, who was herself diagnosed in 2013 at the age of one with a rare form of cancer called Langerhans Cell Hystiocytosis.

Angela was given a 20 per cent chance of survival. She is now cancer-free.

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A sick child with Captain America.

Mr Sotiris revealed Supertee’s goal in appealing to children’s imagination by having them emulate their favourite heroes from pop culture and entertainment.

“Studies have shown that if you dress a child up in costume, that they begin to impersonate the character they are pretending to be,” Mr Sotiris told Neos Kosmos.

“Dr Stephanie Carlson, a child psychologist from Minnesota, United States found that this has benefit as it places a psychological distance between them and the tasks at hand. They begin to look at the world through a different lens.”

Mr Sotiris also spoke on how his Greek roots inspired him to make a difference, especially his memories of his father recounting life in a Greek village.

“When times were tough, the community would come together to support each other because it was understood how everyone was important and they all could help even in a small way. It is often said ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. Well, what happens when that child gets sick? It seems that beautiful village perspective has been lost moving to such a big city or even a different country?” Mr Sotiris asked.

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A group photo at the hospital.

“I would love to tell my father one day how much the Greek community has got behind this project, that because of the community here in Australia that the sickest children in Greece now have access to our Supertees proving that community isn’t just about where you are, it’s about what you can do.”

The charity provides many heart-warming moments for the people involved. Mr Sotiris illustrated the most rewarding part of the Supertee Project which is when the Superhero actors and volunteers visit and deliver a Supertee to a new child.

“That child will look up and see Ironman, Captain America, Captain Marvel and Wonder Woman standing there and that reaction that child gives is what we call ‘The moment’. What follows is a beautiful conversation about how these superheroes have given up time from saving the world and fighting the bad guys to meet their superhero who is this child,” Mr Sotiris said.

“It confuses the child. One child asked “I’m not a superhero, you are” to which Batman replied “but your Batman’s superhero, and I want your signature, I would like a photo with you, you’re my hero, I want to always be brave and strong just like you are.”

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The Supertee Project is an ambitious initiative with dreams of hitting international status.

“Our goal is simple: to have a Supertee available for any child given bad news, anywhere. We are in contact with hospitals overseas who are trialling them as we speak and our plan is to never see a hospital gown again,” Mr Sotiris said.
Manufacturing the costumes

One aspect that shone about this initiative is the innovation in making medical garments something fun, a process which took lots of effort and collaboration.

“The current design was decided upon based on a large number of prototypes that were discussed, made and tested with not only my own children but with other families in hospital. It was so great to see many people willing to help redesign the way a hospital garment should operate and look,” Mr Sotiris said.

“I had the pleasure of bringing everyone together from nurses, families, friends and those with a textile/ business background.”
Though the innovative medical garment was initially produced in Australia, the number of Supertees required meant they were forced to look for overseas manufacturers.

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“We went to great lengths looking for a suitable manufacturer even to the extent of flying to Bangladesh at our own expense to inspect the factories. In the end, we selected a manufacturer in China who is able to make the Supertees precisely the way we need them to be made, and then handled in a manner befitting a medical garment,” Mr Sotiris said.

While the Supertee project is very rewarding, Mr Sotiris and the Fair Fight Foundation have found other means of aiding families with sick children during the COVID pandemic, as well as having aspirations for future projects.

“Our family network hub has been such a benefit for these parents. It’s nice to know that there is someone you can reach out to at 1am because your mind is so full of worry and chat with someone in a similar situation…We are also planning to extend our range into the adolescent/adult range which we are super excited about,” Mr Sotiris said.

Mr Sotiris’ daughter, Angela, is now cancer-free which is tremendous news for him and his family.
Unfortunately, this is not the case for all sick children.

The charity’s goal is to provide Supertees and their services for 30,000 sick children across Australia and they definitely on their way.
“I am proud to say that around 8,000 of Australia’s sickest children have been gifted a Supertee,” Mr Sotiris said.

Cancer and severe medical conditions are a torture to deal with, even more so when it affects children. Mr Sotiris with the help of the Fair Fight Foundation is working to ensure children fight their illnesses as best they can but they can’t do it alone.

“It’s time. But we won’t be able to do this without help, a number of corporates and an even larger number of individuals all whom care for the wellbeing of our sickest children.”

For more information you can visit their page at https://www.supertee.org.au/