Superhero creator Stan Lee is showing a little heroism of his own by raising money to help the victims of Hurricane Irma.
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Lee is working with the organizers of this weekend’s MegaCon Tampa Bay event to help raise funds for the Hurricane Irma recovery effort.
“I feel there’s something everybody has to do to help the victims of the weather, of the hurricane,” Lee told the Associated Press. “And if I can do my part by auctioning some stuff off, I’m more than happy to do it.”
During his MegaCon panel on Friday, Lee will auction off artwork from his personal collection as well as the opportunity for a fan to share a one-on-one dinner with him.
MegaCon organizer Andrew Moyes also said that the event itself will be pitching in by donating $5 dollars for every 2,000 tickets sold online to the Feeding Florida network of food banks.
Between Lee’s auction and the convention’s own donations, MegaCon is estimating a total donation of about $20,000.
Lee was not originally scheduled to appear at this weekend’s MegaCon, but Moyes, who has had worked with Lee in the past, decided to reach out.
“We really felt that Florida was in need of that extra bit of magic,” Moyes said. “What better person to inject some inspiration and cheer than Stan Lee himself? He was on board right away to help out any way he can. That’s just the type of person he is.”
While Lee has made a handful of “final appearances” at certain conventions in recent years, the 94-year-old creator still loves getting to meet fans.
“I keep saying, I’ve got to slow down somehow,” Lee said. “And then I hear that there’s a new convention, and I can’t resist. I’ve got to be in it.”
“The thing that impresses me the most is the fact these characters have lasted, have lived this long, even without me writing them,” Lee continued. “In fact, some of the writers now may be a hell of a lot better than I was. The characters live and thrive, and they’re more popular than ever. As their father, you might say, that’s really a good feeling.”
MegaCon Tamp Bay takes place September 29th through October 1st at the Tampa Convention Center.
