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Christopher Reeve honored by son Matthew at NY Comic Con

"I absolutely understand how everyone sees him as Superman," Matthew acknowledged. "To me he was dad and he was just awesome."

By Annie Martin
Christopher Reeve was honored at New York Comic Con on Saturday. (UPI/Joel Rennich)
1 of 5 | Christopher Reeve was honored at New York Comic Con on Saturday. (UPI/Joel Rennich) | License Photo

NEW YORK, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Christopher Reeve was honored at New York Comic Con on Saturday.

The Superman actor died 10 years ago Friday, and son Matthew Reeve attended the convention to pay tribute to his father.

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"I absolutely understand how everyone sees him as Superman," he acknowledged. "To me he was dad and he was just awesome. He could fly an airplane, he could sail a boat, he was an accomplished piano player."

Reeve died at age 52 in 2004, nearly 10 years after an equestrian accident rendered him quadriplegic. He and wife Dana Reeve founded the Christopher Reeve Foundation to fund and promote paralysis research, and Matthew has continued to work closely with the organization.

The 34-year-old announced the foundation's "The Big Idea" campaign at the convention -- a clinical research project that uses epidural stimulation to help paralyzed individuals regain movement. Four people have received the treatment thus far, and the organization hopes to raise $15 million to treat 36 more and beyond.

"It's the beginning of the end, we know the road ahead, we know where we want to get," Matthew shared. "It's just a question of getting there. When my dad was alive it really was if there will be an effective way of treating spinal cord injuries, that question's been answered... the ultimate goal is to have a world with empty wheelchairs."

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