By Shannon Lukens. Courtesy photos.

 

Toys and gifts from Routt County are headed down to Children’s Hospital in Denver on Friday morning. It’s part of Mickey’s Fund, created over 40 years ago by the late ski legend Jim “Moose” Barrows, in memory of his young son, Mickey.

 

The toys are there to help children who are at Children’s Hospital for long hospital stays over the holidays. Some are terminally ill.

Here’s Moose’s sister, Nancy Gray.

“My brother, Moose, started this fund 40 years ago after his son died, and decided that parents with children in the hospital need a place to go shopping for their kids, so this is called the Snowpile at Children’s Hospital.”

 

The toys go into a special toy room where parents can “shop” for free for gifts that might bring normalcy to their child in the hospital, and any other children that might be with them.

 

Toys are being accepted through the end of day this Thursday, Dec. 18. They can be dropped off at Steamboat Sotheby’s in Wildhorse Plaza or at the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club in Olympian Hall.

 

Donations are also being accepted. Checks can be made out to Children’s Hospital Colorado Foundation, noting “Mickey’s Fund” in the memo. Checks can be dropped off at the Steamboat Sotheby’s front desk, c/o Bobby Aldighieri.

 

From Moose’s family: “Thank you for helping make the holidays a little brighter for children and families who need it most.”