Batkid's back! 5-year-old pays it forward

By Andrea Mandell

USA TODAY

Batkid's back!

But this time, he's directing his powers toward helping other kids.

Five-year-old Miles Scott - most commonly known as Batkid - saw hisdream come truelast month when theMake-A-Wish Foundationturned San Francisco into Gotham for a day. The pint-size Batkid, cheered on by thousands, saved a damsel in distress, rescued a "burglarized" bank and freed the Giants mascot from thePenguin.

San Francisco MayorEd Lee called it "a day of magic," and the nation was equally captivated by the heartwarming deed; fans spanning fromPresident Obamato Christian Balemade public statements about Batkid.

On Saturday, Scott, in remission from leukemia, donned his miniature mask again, this time to pay the favor forward for other children Make-A-Wish hoped to help.

For the foundation'sseventh annualBrave the Bay fundraiser, Batkid arrived at 8:30 a.m. by police escort and led a 5K race of volunteers decked cheerfully in reindeer outfits andSanta Clauscostumes through the city. He stood watch over the traditional cable car pull-offs. And Batkid was even there to supervise the chief of police taking a dive with the most committed into the icy harbor for the cause.

The holiday event was launched in 2007 with the police department, but Batkid's presence has "drawn a lot of attention to this event," says Make-A-Wish spokesperson Jen Wilson. So far the foundation has received $88,000 in donations for the Brave the Bay fundraiser, an increase from roughly $70,000 raised last year.

"In the past we haven't had media attention for this event, at all. Today we have every local network here, we have radio stations, we have theSan Francisco Chronicle," she says.

Although Batkid was expected to demonstrate the cable car pull, Wilson said the superhero needed a bit of a break. "He was feeling a bit shy," she says. "We excused him from his duties."

Meanwhile, Twitter lit up with excitement at Batkid's return.

"trying to see batkid today whoop," wrote user @FEELEESHA.

"Couldn't get the phone out fast enough but I TOTALLY just saw Batkid's Lamborghini Batmobile at Masonic & Geary," wrote @scalawag.

Miles lives inTulelakein farNorthern Californiaand was diagnosed with leukemia when he was 18 months old. He ended treatments in June. Wilson says Batkid's parents are paving the way for the young hero to lend a hand to many.

"His parents felt strongly after his wish was over that they wanted to do something to help others, and so they startedthe Batkid Fund, which will benefit three non-profits who helped him during his illness (including Make-A-Wish)," Wilson says. "They really felt like they wanted to share and have it not be solely focused on him."