Star Wars Weekends

 Anyone attending the first two weekends this year may have noticed this pink R2 unit among the merchandise available.  For anyone still looking forward to visiting Star Wars Weekends over these next two weekends I hope you take the time to look for it.  The price for the Droid is $10 and for my money is one of the best bargins at weekends because  it is more than just the item itself.

R2-KT is a special story and one that should have the attention of anyone in the Star Wars/Disney fan base.  The droid is named to honor  KATIE JOHNSON, a young girl who sadly died of brain cancer in 2005 at the age of seven.  Katie was the daughter of Albin Johnson, the founder of the 501st Legion, the charitable costuming fan club that has divisions all over the world, making numerous appearances and marching in the SWW parades.  

The idea really spawned from Katie's little sister Allie, who after watching Attack of the Clones wished that her sister had an R2 droid to watch over her while she recieved her cancer treatments like R2-D2 watched over Padme to protect her.  From this comment friends of the 501st, at the R2-D2 Builders Club, created a full sized R2-KT for Katie in 2005.  Shortly there after, as the story grew, Hasboro and Lucasfilm set out to create an action figure as a way to honor her and have fans remeber her fight. 

The R2-KT figure was first available last year July 2007 at Comic-Con and is available at Star Wars Weekends.  The reason I love this idea beyond the touching story is that the proceeds from the sales go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  This is one of my favorite charities and one that I hope everyone will spare $10 to help support.  The joy that this group brings to very sick, terminally ill children and their families is immense.  Anyone who has frequented the parks has most likely seen first hand cases where the Make-A-Wish program has brought a family in to Walt Disney World for an opportunity to laugh and play a little during what is likely the most difficult time of their lives. 

I like how this ties in to SWW and for me it made this that much more of a must.  This is a wonderful opportunity to have a collectable or toy that really means something.  For everything I purchased this year at SWW I am most pleased with the money I spent on this little R2 unit.  If you are going by the parks these next two weekends, I hope anyone that has the means will consider purchasing this pink version of R2-D2.  It will bring good things to someone who needs them.