Draw a Hero
Volunteer artists are our biggest need, and more artists mean a shorter wait for every kid. We're looking for illustrators with comic or animation experience who can draw regularly on a flexible schedule.
Apply to Illustrate
A Nonprofit Art Project Since 2015
Kids living with chronic illness invent their own superhero. Our artists draw them as that hero and email the finished art to their family. Free.
Photos of kids from the Hall of Heroes turn into the superhero art our artists drew for them.
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- Super Mia
- Brave Brooklyn
- Sam the Strong
- Daylea the Great
- Dino-Liam the Cancer Crusher
- Super Madelyn
- Drew the Demolisher
- Super Jay
- Double-O
- Kaptain Kason
- Brave Bella
- Super Violet
- Colt Man
- Super-D
How It Works
Start the Superhero Form
The Making of a Superhero
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A Parent Fills Out the Superhero Form
Share a photo or a short description of your child, then answer a few questions about the hero they want to be.
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Your Kid Dreams It Up
The superhero name, the powers and the costume all come from the kid and their family.
Try it right here -
An Artist Draws It
Every hero is drawn one at a time. When Bryan Dyer started You Are The Hero, a single illustration took him about a full workday.
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The Art Lands in Your Inbox
The finished illustration goes straight to the parent's email. Families never pay a thing.
- Who Can Apply
- Kids and teens under 20 living with a chronic illness
- How Many
- One illustration per child
- Typical Wait
- About 6–8 months
- Cost to Families
- $0
Just Imagine
Build Your Own Superhero
If you could be any superhero, who would you be? Pick a name, a power and a costume, and your hero shows up on the cover. Kids living with chronic illness can take their ideas to the Superhero Form, and our artists will draw the real thing.
Just a sketch. A real artist draws the real hero.
Hall of Heroes
Every Hero Here Started as a Real Kid
Tap or hover on a hero to meet the kid who dreamed it up.
Hero art by the You Are The Hero artists. Every hero is created with ideas from the kid and their family.
See the Full Hall of Heroes
Our Origin Story
Every Hero Has an Origin Story. Here's Ours.
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Art School
A Comic With a Mission
At the Cleveland Institute of Art, Bryan Dyer writes and draws a comic book that teaches kids about Type 1 diabetes.
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March 2015
Hero No. 1You Are The Hero goes live, and Dino-Liam: The Cancer Crusher becomes the first official hero.
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Week One
Weeks of Submissions
Just a few days in, Bryan already has several weeks' worth of submissions to draw.
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Three Weeks In
10Heroes drawnA Full-Time Job
The first ten heroes are finished, and You Are The Hero is now Bryan's full-time job.
Besides, who doesn't love superheroes?
If my art can bring even just a little bit of joy and happiness to a child who may be going through a life altering or even life threatening illness, then it's all worth it.
Bryan is a professional illustrator and a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. He has loved superheroes his whole life.
Our MissionTo provide hope and support to children and families living with chronic illnesses.
Read Our Story
Join the Sidekicks
Every Superhero Needs Sidekicks
We're building a community of sidekicks who support our superhero kids through donations, volunteering and art.
Fund the Next Hero
You Are The Hero runs on donations from people and companies. Your gift covers our costs and pays our artists, so every illustration stays free for families.
100%Funded by donations
Lend a Hand
We're looking for board directors and committee members, plus volunteers for fundraising, marketing and events.
Volunteer With UsColor a Hero
$13.99
The Superhero Coloring Book: Volume 4. Every purchase supports the mission.
Hall of Heroes
Meet the Heroes
Every illustration here started with a kid living with a chronic illness and the hero they dreamed up. Open any hero to meet the kid behind the cape.
Showing all 14 heroes
No heroes match that search.
Try a first name like Mia or a hero name like Colt Man.
Your Kid Could Be Next
Kids and teens living with chronic illness can get a hero of their own, drawn free.
How It Works
How a Kid Becomes a Superhero
A parent fills out one form. The kid dreams up the hero. An artist draws it and emails it home. Families never pay a thing.
Step by Step
Five Steps to a Finished Hero
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Fill Out the Superhero Form
A parent or guardian answers a few questions about their child and the hero they want to be. Add a photo, or describe what your child looks like.
Start the form -
Your Kid Dreams It Up
Kids invent their own superhero name, pick any powers they want and design their own costume. Parents help with the details.
Warm up with Build a Hero -
Your Hero Waits in Line
Every submission is drawn first come, first served, with no priority list. Right now the wait is about 6–8 months. Working toward a date? Say so in the form notes.
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An Artist Draws It
Every hero is drawn one at a time. When Bryan Dyer started You Are The Hero in 2015, a single illustration took him about a full workday.
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The Art Lands in Your Inbox
The finished illustration arrives as a digital copy at the parent's email address. There's nothing to pay, now or later.
Eligibility
Who Can Get a Superhero
You Are The Hero draws superheroes for kids and teens living with chronic, life-changing illnesses. Donors cover the costs, so families never pay.
- Age
- Under 20
- Health
- Living with a chronic illness
- How Many
- One hero per child
- Cost
- $0 for families
How does it work?
Fill out the Superhero Form. It asks a few questions that help our artists create your child's illustration. You can include a photo of your child or describe what they look like.
Who can get a superhero?
Kids and teens under 20 who are living with a chronic illness.
Does it cost anything?
No. Every illustration is free, and you'll never be asked to pay. Donations from people and companies cover our costs and pay our artists.
How long does it take?
It depends on how many submissions we have. Right now, illustrations typically arrive 6–8 months after you submit. If you're working toward a specific date, mention it in the notes on the form.
Is there a priority list?
No. Illustrations are completed first come, first served.
How many illustrations can we get?
One per child. Demand is high, and one each lets us draw heroes for more kids.
How will we get the finished art?
A digital copy goes to the parent's email address from the form.
Ready When Your Kid Is
The Superhero Form is for parents and guardians. Families never pay.
Superhero Submission
Submit Your Superhero
Tell us about your kid and the hero they want to be. This form is for parents and guardians of kids living with chronic illness, and it's free.
- Who Can Apply
- Kids and teens under 20 living with a chronic illness
- How Many
- One hero per child
- Typical Wait
- About 6–8 months
- Cost to Families
- $0
- 1About You
- 2Your Kid
- 3Their Look
- 4Their Hero
- 5Review
Our Story
A Super (Hero) Story
You Are The Hero started with an art school comic book about Type 1 diabetes. In March 2015 it became something bigger: free superhero art for kids living with chronic illness.
Besides, who doesn't love superheroes?
Meet Our Founder
An Illustrator Who Never Outgrew Superheroes
Bryan Dyer is a professional illustrator and a graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Art. For his senior thesis he wrote and illustrated a comic book that teaches kids about Type 1 diabetes.
In Bryan's words, that project is where he "came to understand how the lives of millions of children are affected by chronic diseases and disorders." It inspired You Are The Hero.
If my art can bring even just a little bit of joy and happiness to a child who may be going through a life altering or even life threatening illness, then it's all worth it.
What We're Here For
Our Mission and Vision
Our Mission
To provide hope and support to children and families living with chronic illnesses.
Our Vision
To empower youth in need to embrace their superhero identity and share their heroic story.
Our Goal
To uplift sick children around the world, with every illustration provided free of charge.
Our Four Pillars
Every Team Has Its Superpowers
These four ideas guide everything You Are The Hero does.
Inspiration
To use art to lift up our superhero kids and show off their super powers in new and exciting ways.
Education
To spread knowledge and awareness of the chronic illnesses that our superhero kids manage and fight every day.
Empowerment
To contribute to a system of support and encouragement for the families and friends of every superhero kid.
Community
To build a community of sidekicks that support our superhero kids through donations, volunteering and art.
From the Archives
The Letters Page
Comic books used to end with a page of letters. Here are Bryan's first three notes to supporters, written the month You Are The Hero launched.
March 7, 2015
Thank You!
"I am completely blown away by the support for You Are the Hero! We've only been live for a couple of days and the response has been immeasurably positive."
"A little over a year ago this was merely an idea in the back of my head, and up until about a month ago that's where it stayed."
Bryan
March 12, 2015
Our First Week
"I am blown away by how quickly 'You Are the Hero' is growing and that is largely due to your willingness to share this project with your friends and family."
"I am excited to say that YATH has become my full-time job practically overnight."
Bryan
March 25, 2015
Update
"These past three weeks have been nothing short of incredible."
"Believe me when I say that these are not quick sketches that I rush out."
Bryan
Help Write the Next Chapter
You Are The Hero runs on donations and volunteers.
Get Involved
You Can Be a Hero Too
You Are The Hero runs 100% on donations from people and companies. Give, draw, volunteer or partner with us, and more kids get to see themselves as heroes.
Donate
Fund the Next Hero
Your gift covers our costs and pays our artists, so every illustration stays free for the families who need one.
$0What families pay for their hero
You Are The Hero Inc. is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
Illustrate
Become a Hero Illustrator
Volunteer artists are one of our biggest needs. Every new artist shortens the wait for the kids in line.
We're Looking For
- A passion for kids
- Comic or animation experience
- Time to draw regularly, on a flexible schedule
- A volunteer, service-first mindset
Volunteer
Lend Your Superpower
You Are The Hero is growing, and volunteer roles come in all shapes and sizes. Tell us where you'd like to help and we'll find the right fit.
Partner
Partner With Us
Companies help keep every illustration free. If your team has an idea for working together, or you're planning a project with a kid who needs a hero, we'd love to hear it.
The Superhero Shop
Shop to Support the Heroes
Every purchase supports the mission of You Are The Hero. Start with the coloring book, or grab some hero merch.
Try It Here
Color Kaptain Kason
Pick a color and paint. The lines stay on top, so you can't color over them. Save your page when you're done.
A line drawing made from Kaptain Kason's hero art.
Merch
Visit the Merch Store
Wear the Mission
Hero merch lives in a separate online store. The link opens in a new tab.
Contact
We'd Love to Hear From You
Looking to partner with us? Have an awesome idea? Just looking to chat? Send us a message.