Batman way to battle leukemia

John Ewing waits outside of City Hall for the Batkid, Miles Scott, 5, to make an appearance at a rally in San Francisco on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013. Miles is a leukemia survivor from Tulelake in Siskiyou County, Calif. After battling leukemia since he was a year old, Miles is now in remission. One of his heroes is Batman, so to celebrate the end of his treatment, the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area granted his wish to become Batkid for a day. [Photo/icpress.cn]

Though he didn't address the crowd, he raised his fist twice and wore a grin as he was feted with chocolate, an FBI "raid jacket" and a San Francisco Police Department cap. A clothing company donated $10,000 to Miles' family, and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee proclaimed November 15 to be "Batkid Day Forever."

US Attorney Melinda Haag unveiled an "indictment" charging the Penguin and Riddler with conspiracy as the crowd that stretched for blocks roared with delight.

Miles' father, Nick Scott, was asked what the boy liked best about Batman. "The cape, I guess," he said.

The father thanked the crowd, organizers and the city for showing his son a good time.

"This is closure for us," Nick Scott said. "It has been a hard three years."

Miles, who lives in Tulelake in northern California, didn't know what was in store for him and thought he was in San Francisco just to get a Batman costume so he could dress like his favorite superhero.

He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old and ended treatments in June.

Batman assists Miles Scott, 5, the Batkid, as he prepares to save a damsel in distress on Hyde Street in San Francisco on Friday, Nov. 15, 2013. Miles is a leukemia survivor from Tulelake in Siskiyou County, Calif. After battling leukemia since he was a year old, Miles is now in remission. One of his heroes is Batman, so to celebrate the end of his treatment, the Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area granted his wish to become Batkid for a day.  [Photo/icpress.cn]

Make-A-Wish has fulfilled similar wishes across the country. In Anaheim, a child became Batman's sidekick, Robin; and in Seattle a child was a secret agent, said Jen Wilson, a spokeswoman for the local organization.

The San Francisco Chronicle, KGO-TV and thousands of volunteers participated in the event. At Union Square, the Chronicle distributed hundreds of copies of special-edition newspapers with the headline "Batkid Saves City."

"This is off-the-hook San Francisco," Suhr said.