A longtime volunteer dressed as Spider-Man is cheering up hospitalized children in California, a feel-good story for sick kids and their families.

• Ricky Mena has visited hospitals and homes as Spider-Man for over 10 years, reaching more than 15,000 kids across the country and overseas.
• His goal is simple: give kids a good memory, a reason to smile, and a reminder they are not alone.
• Doctors at Kaiser Permanente Roseville say moments of laughter make a real difference for patients going through hard times.
• Anyone wanting to help can ask a hospital how to volunteer, though it requires background checks and following hospital rules.

Outlook: Mena plans to keep visiting hospitals, and hospitals remain open to volunteers who want to bring cheer to young patients.