Batkid in New York: ‘It’s been amazing,’ cancer survivor’s dad says

Batkid -- the pint-sized cancer survivor who captured the nation’s heart this month while “saving” San Francisco -- was called upon again Monday, this time to battle the Joker in New York City.

On Nov. 15, 5-year-old Miles Scott lived out his dream of becoming a superhero on live television thanks to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and thousands of volunteers who turned out to cheer him on. As he set out in San Francisco, his missions -- including busting the Riddler and saving the Giants’ mascot -- turned into a national spectacle as news stations carried the footage live.

PHOTOS: Batkid to the rescue in San Francisco

Even members of Congress issued video pleas for help, and President Obama offered kudos in a brief video: “Way to go Miles, way to save Gotham.”

Miles has battled acute lymphoblastic leukemia since he was 20 months old. His cancer went into remission and, with his last round of chemotherapy in June, he said he wanted to be Batman.

On Monday, he took on the Joker at the “Good Morning America” studios in New York, where a video message from Mayor Michael Bloomberg was waiting for the tiny caped crusader: “Hey Batkid, it’s great to welcome another brave crime fighter to the real Gotham, New York City.”

From there, Batkid and Batman raced to rescue Pitbull -- fresh from his appearance on the American Music Awards -- who had been locked in his room by the Joker.

Nick Scott told GMA that the response to his son’s wish has been overwhelming.

“It’s been amazing,” he said. “We never expected anything like this, on a level like this.”

Miles still dons the bat suit at home with his younger brother playing the role of Robin.

“He’s in remission so this has kind of been like the after-party for him, a way to kick it off,” Scott said on GMA. “Chemo is all he’s ever known. That’s the life that he’s known but this is kind of a way to celebrate the ending.”

Scott and his wife, Natalie, have announced a partnership with the San Francisco 49ers Foundation to create the Batkid Fund, which benefits the three organizations that have helped the family cope during Miles’ three-year battle with cancer: Make-A-Wish, the Ronald McDonald House and the Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Oregon.

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jason.wells@latimes.com

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