Comic book heroes are typically known for saving fictional lives, but Saint Barnabas Health Care System has found a way for them to save real ones.

Superheroes for Hospice will be hosting another comic book sale on Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Saint Barnabas Health Care System Corporate Office at 95 Old Short Hills Road in West Orange. The money raised from the comic book sales will benefit patients of the Saint Barnabas Hospice and Palliative Care Center (SBHPCC).

Spiro Ballas, a volunteer coordinator, came up with the idea to sell comic books from the radio.

"I heard the commercial for Kars-For-Kids on the radio, and figured if people donate cars, perhaps they would do the same with comics," Ballas said. 

Since its first sale in West Orange in 2009, Superheroes for Hospice has raised $10,000, all of which has gone to providing quality care to patients of SBHPCC. 

The comic books are donated by a variety of different sources. Two of the largest contributors, according to Ballas, were two dads who just had daughters, and having no interested heir to pass their collections onto, they donated them to Superheroes for Hospice. Other large donations have come from comic book writers and artists as well as box of 100 donation that came from a comic book store that went out of business in 2010. 

The sale typically includes hundreds of boxes of a wide variety of different comic book genres as well as graphic novels and limited edition artwork. Comic book creators, writers, and artists will be in attendance to provide signatures and sketches to patrons.

For more information or to make a comic book donation, contact Spiro Ballas at sballas@barnabashealth.org or 973-322-4866.