A special gift
Aug. 27th, 2007 04:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundA box arrived today from a friend. Inside?
Two pink toy Astromech droids - namely R2-KT.
You never heard of this pink Imperial droid?? Well, here is an interesting - and touching - story.....
In 2004, Katie Johnson, the daughter of 501st founder Albin Johnson, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. She bravely fought both the tumor and the chemotherapy needed for it. Fans from all over the world rallied to show their support and affection for this little girl. The 501st has always had a mission to support children who are ill or need support - now it was one of the 501st's children in need.
In early 2005, Allie Johnson, Katie's sister, was watching "Attack of the Clones", and remarked that she wished her sister had an R2 unit to watch over her in the hospital. That gave their father an idea. With the help of the R2 Builders Group, a pink R2 unit, one R2-KT, was given to Katie. From that point on, Katie and KT were inseperable.....
On August 9th, 2005, Katie lost her fight.
In her memory, a new R2-KT was built. This unit has the message on the back "R2-KT, In loving memory of Katie Johnson" on the back, and has on onto a career of visiting children's hospitals and fund-raisers, brightening the spirits of those children as did the original R2-KT.
In 2007, Hasbro and the 501st joined forces. The result was a special toy version of R2-KT, released at ComicCon and available on Hasbro's Website
In addition to that, Hasbro and Lucas film donated $100,000 to Make A Wish for Southern California and South Caroline in memory of Katie Johnson.
The little pink droid has done well.......
Two pink toy Astromech droids - namely R2-KT.
You never heard of this pink Imperial droid?? Well, here is an interesting - and touching - story.....
In 2004, Katie Johnson, the daughter of 501st founder Albin Johnson, was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. She bravely fought both the tumor and the chemotherapy needed for it. Fans from all over the world rallied to show their support and affection for this little girl. The 501st has always had a mission to support children who are ill or need support - now it was one of the 501st's children in need.
In early 2005, Allie Johnson, Katie's sister, was watching "Attack of the Clones", and remarked that she wished her sister had an R2 unit to watch over her in the hospital. That gave their father an idea. With the help of the R2 Builders Group, a pink R2 unit, one R2-KT, was given to Katie. From that point on, Katie and KT were inseperable.....
On August 9th, 2005, Katie lost her fight.
In her memory, a new R2-KT was built. This unit has the message on the back "R2-KT, In loving memory of Katie Johnson" on the back, and has on onto a career of visiting children's hospitals and fund-raisers, brightening the spirits of those children as did the original R2-KT.
In 2007, Hasbro and the 501st joined forces. The result was a special toy version of R2-KT, released at ComicCon and available on Hasbro's Website
In addition to that, Hasbro and Lucas film donated $100,000 to Make A Wish for Southern California and South Caroline in memory of Katie Johnson.
The little pink droid has done well.......
