- The most magical trip of a lifetime for Northern Ireland children with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions to resume after a two-year break –
A Christmas themed pop-up shop at St John’s Church Hall, Crumlin has raised over £1000 for the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust.
The donation will support the cost of sending one child with a life-threatening and/or life-limiting condition to Lapland this winter.
Lyn Cassidy from St John’s Parish discusses:
“We were delighted to choose the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust as one of our charity recipients for our Christmas pop up shop.
The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) is gearing up to take 100 deserving children from Northern Ireland to Lapland this Christmas (21 December) for the first time since before the pandemic.
The resumption of the much-loved trip will see healthcare professionals here nominate 100 children across the province with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions to visit the magical location of Rovaniemi where Santa resides in a cavernous and truly magical winter wonderland, under the Arctic Circle.
The mystical spot, just 800 kilometres north of Helsinki, sees the children meet with Santa and his huskies, bake with Mrs Claus, take a magical train ride and even qualify from Elf school.
The trip is planned with painstaking detail to ensure the right medical staff and equipment onboard the three-hour flight guarantee the complete safety and comfort of all travellers.
The mission of the trip, which has been going for 12 years, with the exception of two years during the pandemic, is to give deserving children from across the Province an experience that they can cherish.
At any given stage in Northern Ireland, there are at least 1500 children suffering from a terminal or life-limiting illness and NICLT has an objective to alleviate the pressures these children and their families face by organising experiences like the Lapland visit.
This year the usual cost of the trip — approximately £750 per child — has increased substantially to accommodate the cost of living crisis and surging fuel costs.
It means NICLT will have to ramp up its fundraising efforts.
NICLT’s President, Gerry Kelly, said: “We are delighted to be able to resume our trip to Lapland this Christmas and create memories with some of the most deserving children here and their families.
“It has been difficult not being able to offer that experience to children during the pandemic and while we did deliver gifts to their homes over that period, nothing quite beats the magic these children feel when they board that flight to Lapland.
“The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Trust relies solely on donations and fundraising drives. We would like to thank St John’s Parish in Crumlin for their very generous donation.”
Chairman of NICLT, Colin Barkley, added: “On one day a year we fill an aeroplane with children with particular needs, their families, healthcare professionals and a host of equipment. The aircraft is effectively a flying hospital while the authorities in Lapland are aware of the nature of our flight and an ambulance and the local hospital are on standby.
“It is this setup that is meticulously planned that allows many of these children to fly for the first time ever, due in part to prohibitive insurance and the nature of their condition.
“It’s no easy feat but one that delivers so much joy and creates life-long memories for all involved, and we are so happy to bring it back after a two-year break.
“Because we are self-funded, it’s important to us to thank our supporters, corporate sponsors and the individuals who go out of their way to help make this wonderful trip of a lifetime a reality.”
Dr Mark Rollins, a charity Trustee and a Senior Consultant Paediatrician, explains: “NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust is a unique charity which allows health and community care workers, based in all the paediatric departments and hospitals in Northern Ireland, to nominate the sick children they feel most deserve such an amazing treat.
“The health teams are all aware of the significant burden on carers and families who look after their child’s condition and needs on a daily basis. Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals give up their own time to volunteer to ensure that these children can experience a magical time in a safe environment whilst not forgetting the boost the trip gives to their self-confidence and mental well-being.
“Of all the charities I have ever been involved with, NICLT is definitely extra special.”
Over the years more than 1000 children and their families have enjoyed NICLT’s trip to Lapland, with memories lasting long beyond the day itself.
Parent, Grainne McQuade said: “To see the happiness on my son’s face was something I will never forget.”
Another parent added: “This trip was an extraordinary experience for our family, especially at a time of grief. Invaluable memories were made.”
Emma, 10, said: “It was the best day of my life.” And little Teddy, 8, added: “I loved it and didn’t want to go home. My dreams came true.”
Pictured are (l-r) Velda Burton, Kim Steele, Lyn Cassidy, Yvonne Stewart, Patricia Geddis, Frances Dunlop, Deborah Bickerstaff, Nicola Bickerstaff from St John’s Parish (TBC) and Fiona Williamson, General Manager, Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust.