Salt Lake Comic Con, Utah’s nerdvana, is less than a week away and Cassi Booth was excited. Tickets have been purchased and itineraries planned out. All that’s left is to wait for the three day party to arrive.
Pictured: Booth and Aiden, 4.
Comic Con is always a great time, there is a lot to do and see, the price tag can add up quickly. Booth had been saving money for months in anticipation of all available in Salt Lake’s Salt Palace Convention Center. She had planned on attending with her young son and with the con on the horizon had all of her cash gathered together. Then her wallet was stolen.
Booth posted in a private group for SLCC asking for information on returning her tickets and getting a refund. Other members of the group, which numbers at almost twenty thousand, responded with information on requesting a refund and encouraged Booth to still attend, noting all of the great things the con has to offer at no additional cost.
Cassi thanked the group members for the information noting that she would figure something out.
The response has been astounding. Noting the details of the situation, the members of the group were not content with getting Booth a refund on her tickets. Instead, in the next twelve hours, offers of photo op vouchers and donations of time, talent, and money came pouring in.
Salt Lake Comic Con has designed their convention in such a way that promotes making it convenient to help people attend who otherwise might not be able to. Programs like pay-it-forward discounts allow those who have already purchased tickets to offer a low cost option to family, friends, or complete strangers. Vouchers are provided to VIP ticket holders and are transferrable. Salt Lake Comic Con has also donated tickets in the past to schools and groups who might benefit from the experience.
But it’s not just the con organizers, this attitude of inclusion permeates locals and congoers as well. Quickly, a GoFundMe account was set up so that those with a desire to help Booth and her son have the experience she had planned could do so.
At the time of this writing photo ops for Henry Winkler and John Cena have been locked down and members of the group have donated almost $500.00 to the fund so that Booth and her son can get souvenirs while enjoying the three day event.
Local cosplay groups have also offered to take photos with Booth’s son and artists have offered free art. It’s incredible the difference a day can make, what began as an unfortunate turn of events has transformed into an experience that Booth and her family will likely never forget.
Stories like “Star Wars,” “Harry Potter,” and the myriad works of comic writers and artists appeal to us not only because of the exciting characters and settings, but because of the core message that while things can sometimes go horribly wrong, good should win out over evil and righteousness should win the day. Salt Lake Comic Con is a celebration not only of our favored stories but of those very ideals and it’s clear that those in attendance have taken that message to heart.
Next week the Salt Palace will be populated by countless fictional superheroes and more than a handful of real life heroes. At least to one little boy and his mom.
The feels are mutual, Lisa.
Salt Lake Comic Con will take place September 1 – 3. If you’re interested in donating, visit the GoFundMe campaign set up on Booth’s behalf.
Cassidy Ward is a local writer and author. His short story “The Staircase” is available now on Amazon. You can see him on various panels at the upcoming Salt Lake Comic Con.