Pink Droid With A Heart of Gold

Remember back in my Hasbro post I said there would be more info on the R2-KT figure that I bought? I know its been awhile, but I finally did it! The figure was a limited edition run available only at the Con and on the Hasbro and Star Wars online websites. All proceeds from the sales of the R2-KT figure went to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

[courtesy of Hasbro]

R2-KT was originally made for a little girl named Katie Johnson who was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Albin Johnson, her father and founder of the 501st Legion, thought of the idea of creating an R2 unit to watch over Katie much like R2-D2 watched over Padme in Episode II. Katie's sister pitched in the idea to make Katie's R2 unit pink and to name it R2-KT (like R2-Katie.) You can read more about how the Johnson's idea came to fruition on the R2-KT Home Page and more about Katie on her home page.

[Courtesy of R2-KT Home Page]

Though Katie's battle with cancer ended in August of 2005, R2-KT's mission is "to entertain children, raise awareness of pediatric cancer, and raise money for such charities as Make-A-Wish and Children's Cancer Fund" (from R2-KT Home Page.) Though Hasbro's stock of R2-KT figures sold out at the Con and their online website shortly thereafter, I recently checked their webpage to find that they did get a few more in stock. At only $9.99 a pop, its not a bad way of giving to a good cause.


until next time...