TAMPA, Fla. — A Bay area superhero is fighting the bad guys of a life-threatening disease.
- Jeremiah Stemple has cystic fibrosis
- Stemple created a superhero
- Pathway CF Superhero
“Pathway” is a superhero with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disorder that affects the lungs and digestive system.
Jeremiah Stemple created the character. He has cystic fibrosis too.
“Growing up, I loved superheroes but never had one that I could really relate to, because most superheroes are in great physical shape, they don’t have any problems,” Stemple said. “Here I am, I have a hard time breathing most of the time. I want to give sick kids a hero they could relate to, while also educating people about some of the struggles we deal with.”
That’s why Stemple is going even further in the comic world. He’s raising money to givePathway his own comic book. The superhero Pathway is a scientist, who spent so much time working towards a cure that he made a high-tech suit to help ward off the evils of cystic fibrosis, like Gasp the air polluter.
“He uses smoke bombs and stuff that are very, very bad for us,” said the superhero Pathway. “I got to stop him from doing that and hurting the kids.”
Stemple partnered with The Colton Underwood Legacy Foundation. Others have also helped with the writing and drawing at low or no cost.
The comic book is expected to be released in the next few weeks. Temple hopes to hand it out for free to educate people about cystic fibrosis.