A volunteer group in Rapid City is dressing as popular animation characters to bring smiles to children in need.
Shareece Tatum opens the gate to Story Book Island revealing an elaborate set up of Christmas lights. She walks to a small dressing room in the gift shop. Tatum is the founder of the volunteer group Bunny’s Heroes.
Performers from Bunny’s Heroes dress as popular animated film characters such as Disney Princesses and super heroes and interact with children. Tatum plays Merida from Disney’s Brave. She says the group aims to bring magic and smiles to kids who don’t usually experience it. She falls in and out of a Scottish accent as she prepares her costume.
“Some of my favorite parts are that big smile where they see magic and hope come alive in front of them. If you do go and see a wee sick one that has cancer and you just don’t know if they’re going to make it, it’s just really super hard to be those types of characters for them because you have to try to be upbeat and give them but also not give them false hope either,” says Tatum.
Bunny’s Heroes performs with local organizations such as the Make A Wish Foundation and Relay For Life. Tatum says each volunteer can make a difference to some child in need.
“There’s some heroes that even if they don’t want to believe in magic that they open up to. I’ve seen some of these kids who were from abusive families and stuff like that. And so they were just afraid to believe in magic or even trust anybody. And the minute they see Spiderman it’s gone. They’re just like, it’s Spiderman, and they can connect with him,” Tatum says.
Tatum finishes getting dressed and goes to greet families entering Story Book Island’s Christmas Light display. She says each night they try to help bring the magic of the park to life.