Comic and toy convention raises money for Make-a-Wish Foundation

The Colorado Springs Comic and Toy Convention is back, and bigger than ever.

More than 3,000 people showed up Saturday and Sunday, many of them dressed as their favorite pop culture character.

“It brings back memories, and it allows people to go in character and have fun,” Gary Weston said. “It’s like a whole weekend of Halloween.”

Vendors sold comics, toys, cards and collectible memorabilia. Many of the items are hard to find anywhere else.

“Collectors will come here and find something they need for their collection and they’ll buy it,” Cohain Bradley said.

The convention did not have an entry fee. Instead, it encouraged people to make a charitable donation.

“They chose to align with a charity, which says a lot about them. They picked Make-a-Wish Colorado to receive donations,” said Patti Forsythe, a Make-a-Wish representative.

Make-a-Wish relies on individual donations. The money raised will go directly to local children.

“The Colorado chapter does about 250 wishes a year. 30 percent of those wishes come from the Colorado Springs area,” Forsythe said.

Clint Randolph founded the convention. He said he’s proud of the event’s growth over the years, and he’s looking forward to the future.

“San Diego Comic Con, the biggest con in the world, started out just like this,” he said. “Who knows what our convention could turn in to.”