As May 13 approaches, the Virgin Islands prepares to honor Logan Cruz, whose short life continues to inspire many. “Logan Cruz the Superhero Day,” which falls on what would have been Logan Cruz’s sixth birthday, aims to raise awareness about childhood cancer and celebrate the legacy of a boy who touched hearts across the territory.
Logan Cruz passed away after a courageous two-year battle with leukemia. Since his passing, his mother, Anais Cruz, has been on a mission to educate children about cancer through school visits and the Logan Miracle Foundation.
“When you hear the word ‘cancer,’ you usually think of adults, not children,” said Cruz. “This is a topic that’s rarely discussed in schools. I would hate for it to hit close to home for a student who doesn’t understand what childhood cancer means,” she said.
To bridge that gap, Cruz uses a superhero-themed presentation to make the message relatable to children. In it, cancer is the villain, and Logan is the superhero. The response from students has been overwhelming.
“They ask amazing questions and are really engaged with my presentation,” she said. “At my first school visit to Ricardo Richards Elementary, I was nervous. I didn’t think I was emotionally ready to face children.”
That visit, however, proved transformative.
“There was a little girl in a wheelchair sitting at the front. She had the brightest spirit and asked the most amazing questions,” Cruz recalled. “At the end, I knelt and told her she was also a superhero — that she had powers, too. Kids like her inspire me to keep going.”
What started as a simple idea has grown beyond Cruz’s expectations. Originally intended for elementary school students, the cape-wearing campaign has expanded to include adults and supporters in the mainland United States.
“I didn’t anticipate this kind of feedback,” Cruz said. “People from the States are asking me to mail them capes. It went from just wanting kids to wear capes to adults joining in too. This has grown far bigger than I imagined.”
The Virgin Islands Education Department has also shown strong support. Cruz submitted a proposal to the commissioner, who then involved the superintendents of both the St. Thomas-St. John and St. Croix districts.
“St. Thomas and St. John were especially excited to participate,” Cruz said. “Although I don’t have an event there, I mailed 250 capes to be distributed by the Department of Education.”
A cape distribution event is scheduled for Friday, at the Sunny Isles Shopping Center Amphitheater from noon to 3 p.m. The event will feature face painting, music, photo opportunities, and an image of Logan wearing his superhero cape.
“This is the first time I’ve partnered with any department,” Cruz said. “And what better department than Education? Kids are my focus. I hope this is the beginning of a great partnership.”
At each school she visits, Cruz colors with the children, shares Logan’s favorite snack, Oreos, and delivers her superhero-themed message of hope and awareness.
“All of this stems from my foundation,” she said. “Now that the Department of Education is involved, I hope they’ll see the impact we’re making.”
May 13th, Logan’s birthday, and now officially recognized as Logan Cruz the Superhero Day, serves as a reminder of his life and the broader issue of childhood cancer, which Cruz says is rarely acknowledged in the Virgin Islands.
“This is about more than just Logan,” she emphasized. “It’s about bringing awareness to childhood cancer throughout the territory. I’ve slowly been turning my pain into power.”
Although the Logan Miracle Foundation’s website is currently under construction, donations can still be made. Supporters can write checks to The Logan Miracle Foundation, message the foundation on Facebook or call or text 832-258-4748 for more information.
Cruz is urging all students to wear capes to school on May 13.
“We’ll be giving away more than 500 capes,” she said. “This is the beginning of something great. I don’t want any child to feel like an outsider because of illness or disability. Every child is special. This helps keep me grounded — and it keeps my son’s legacy alive.”
