UltraStar event Saturday to benefit HopeKids

It’s a Star Wars year. But at the UltraStar Multi-tainment Center that means more than waiting with bated breath for the winter release of the sequel to the iconic movies from the 1970s.

Saturday, UltraStar is hosting “A New Hope for Kids,” an event to benefit HopeKids. The charity creates activities for children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. UltraStar hosts frequent events for the children.

To help raise money for the charity, “New Hope for Kids” is kicking in the Star Wars theme by incorporating the new – and already popular – arcade Star Wars Battle Pods. There will also be Stormtroopers and other costumed characters from the Star Wars franchise.

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, game-lovers can purchase a wrist band for $10 and play one of the two battle pods, play a game of laser tag, bowl a game and get a one-hour game card. Half of the proceeds from the wrist bands will go to HopeKids.

Bridget Asheim, executive director of HopeKids Arizona, said her organization serves 1,000 families. Every month about between 300 and 400 children and their families go to UltraStar for a family-friendly movie and fun in the arcade and bowling alley, she said.

The Star Wars Battle Pods, which have curved screens and simulation technology, are among several new arcade games they have been enjoying at UltraStar. Others newcomers are Pac-Man Swirl, Mario Kart, Transformers: Human Alliance and Sink the Ship.

She said HopeKids hosts 200 to 300 events a year in Arizona, events that are free for the families.

“It’s just a chance for them to forget about what they’ve been through,” Asheim said.

While most of the children HopeKids serves have cancer, others are also dealing with genetic disorders and degenerative diseases.