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More than 80 children from across Northern Ireland facing life-threatening and life-limiting conditions travelled to Lapland on Wednesday 17 December for an unforgettable festive experience, thanks to the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust. Before they departed Newry's Choir Studio was on hand to entertain them with some Christmas songs.
The annual trip, now in its 17th year, saw families depart from Belfast International Airport for Rovaniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle. Since the charity began, more than 1,800 children have experienced the magic of Lapland, creating precious memories and bringing joy and respite to families dealing with some of life's toughest challenges.
During their enchanting day in Rovaniemi, the children enjoyed reindeer and husky rides, mini skidoo adventures, magic sleigh rides, snowmobile safaris and a special meeting with Santa Claus himself. Each child was accompanied by a parent or carer, with support from an exceptional team of healthcare professionals and volunteers throughout the journey.
Among those travelling was seven-year-old Corrin Kennedy from Dunloy, Co Antrim, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is registered as visually impaired. His mum Courtney said: "From the moment I received the email telling us that Corrin had been nominated and selected to go to Lapland, it has felt completely surreal. It's an opportunity I never imagined we would have, and we are so deeply grateful. For families like ours, an adventure like this would be impossible because of our child's complex medical needs — but thanks to NI Children to Lapland, our dream is becoming a reality. They have thought of every detail, every challenge, every worry, and lifted them from my shoulders so I can simply enjoy the trip of a lifetime with my special boy and make memories to last a lifetime."
The response from families was overwhelmingly positive, with six-year-old Florrie McKessick from Ballymoney describing it as the "best day of my life" and five-year-old Jaxon Millar from Ballymena calling it the "best trip ever". Hugh McCloy, whose son Hugh aged seven from Draperstown joined the trip, said: "Being normal is one of the most normal things to do – this makes the impossible normal!"
Penny Bannerman from Coleraine, who travelled with her son Teddy, added: "Words can't describe how amazing this trip to Lapland has been for Teddy and I. We have had an incredible time and we can't thank you enough!"
The trip was made possible through generous support from TUI, Belfast International Airport, Swissport, Shell Aviation, Finavia, Rovaniemi Airport, Santa Park and Wild Nordic in Rovaniemi. Charlotte Brenner, Marketing Manager at TUI, said: "It is an enormous privilege to welcome on board the children, families, medical teams and support staff heading off on this exciting adventure to Lapland. We're delighted we can lend our support once again and help to make this a joyful experience that will create wonderful lasting memories."
Deborah Harris, Communications & Corporate Affairs Director at Belfast International Airport, added: "We are thrilled to welcome the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Trust flight back to Belfast International Airport. It is always a very special day and this year is no exception. We are delighted to welcome all of the children, their families and the fantastic staff to Belfast International Airport and we are sure they will have an experience to remember."
Adding to the festive atmosphere before departure, The Choir Studio from Newry performed at the airport, filling the terminal with Christmas cheer and excitement. Kathy McCaughey of The Choir Studio said: "We are so privileged to lend our voices to something so special! This is the true meaning of Christmas for our choir family."
Colin Barkley, Chair of NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, said the trip represented the culmination of 12 months of fundraising and planning. He said: "This is the biggest day of our year and the culmination of 12 months of fundraising and planning. Seeing the joy on the faces of these children and their families makes it all worthwhile and inspires us to do even more for deserving children in the years ahead. There is no greater Christmas gift than bringing joy to children living with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions."
Mr Barkley expressed gratitude to the charity's partners, fundraisers, volunteers and supporters, as well as corporate partners including Wineflair, The Bushmills Inn, C-Tec (NI), Glens of Antrim Potatoes, CosyRoof, Bells of Crossgar, Energystore, Mango and Finlay Wealth Management, whose generosity ensures the magical journey continues to bring light and joy to these remarkable children and their families.
