Josh Aryeh has a calling, and that calling is to bring smiles to the faces of children who need them desperately during treatment in the hospital. To make this happen, he’s taken a very interesting route that’s seemed to work out very well for him: be Batman. Aryeh has dawned the mask of the Dark Knight to become the hero these children need. But it doesn’t stop at just the mask, because as we all know, Batman needs a slick ride. For that, Aryeh has combined his passions of helping others and cars to create an unforgettable experience for children going through challenging times.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Aryeh about his superhero outings, all of which he documents on his Instagram account @batmanrealaccount.
What inspired you to start visiting these children and treating them to rides?
Like most other teenagers, I grew up liking exotic cars. One of my cousins was a member of an exotic car club so he would get to drive multiple exotic cars throughout the year. Occasionally, he would let me take the car home for a few days. I decided to call a few charities to see if they had any kids that would be interested in going in one of the cars. One day I received a call that there was an 8-year-old girl that was extremely sick and her dream was to go in a convertible Lamborghini. We coordinated the surprise with the family and it inspired me to do it thousands of times since then. They brought out an 8-year-old girl that looked extremely sad but when she looked up and saw a convertible yellow Lamborghini in front of her house she had a big smile on her face. I gave her a ride in the car with the top down and after we finished they brought her back into the house. Once the girl was inside the house the mother began to cry hysterically. I asked the mother if I did or said anything wrong since it was the first time that I was doing this. the mother told me that the daughter has been sick since she was 4 years old and had over 50 surgeries, she got an infection from 1 of the surgeries which caused her to become paralyzed. She said that this was the 1st time she saw her daughter smile since she was diagnosed with cancer four years ago. It was at that moment that I decided that if I was able to have such an impact on these children’s lives I wanted to continue doing it and make a positive impact in the world.
Is there a car that the kids love the most?
The younger kids love when I visit in my Batmobiles- GTR or the Matte Black Ferrari 488 spider. But the older kids love the Lamborghini Aventador because the doors go up.
Have there been any moments that have stood out while taking them for rides?
Every moment that I take the kids for rides stands out. However, the most impactful story is the one that I told above.
How do the parents react?
The parents always give me so many blessings and tell me that they can’t thank me enough or repay for the kindness that a show to their kids. However, it is I who truly benefits the most since I love seeing the kids so happy by the time I leave their hospital room or outpatient treatment center.
Is there a new car on the horizon for Batman?
I’m currently in the market for a new car to use for the kids. I’m debating between a McLaren and the Ferrari California T. The kids would love the McLaren because it looks really cool when the doors are opened. However, the Ferrari has a back seat so I can take 3 kids and the car at one time.
Do you have any advice for anyone who would like to follow your path?
I would tell them that even if you don’t currently have the financial ability to buy an exotic car, you can still make a big difference in the world. Kindness is something that everyone can afford to give. Even the smallest act of kindness can have a much larger ripple effect than you can ever imagine
I created my Instagram page Batman Real Account so I can hopefully inspire people to become kinder.