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Children from Newry were among 20 young people with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions who enjoyed a trip to Disneyland Paris at the weekend. The visit was organised by the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) and saw 44 people, including parents, local health professionals and NICLT representatives, set off on Saturday 3 October for two days at the resort.
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The trip was organised to be safe, supported and stress-free, giving families a break from the daily challenges of managing serious health conditions and the chance to make lasting memories together. Medical professionals from Causeway Hospital travelled with NICLT General Manager Fiona Williamson and board member Anna Kayes.
NICLT Chair Colin Barkley said the charity is committed to giving the children and their families the chance to create unforgettable memories. "What makes this trip so special is seeing families able to focus simply on enjoying time together," he said.
"Our team and the medical professionals who travel with us work hard to make the experience as safe, accessible and relaxed as possible," he added.
Mr Barkley thanked donors, fundraisers and corporate partners for helping the charity to expand its reach in recent years including The Bushmills Inn, WineFlair, C-Tec (NI), CosyRoof, Bells of Crossgar, Energystore, Mango Contact Centre and Send My Bag.
Several parents shared their experiences of the trip. Jodie and Andrina McAllister from Belfast travelled with their daughter Calla, six, who has Turner syndrome and has nightly growth hormone injections. "Watching her face light up as she experienced the magic is a moment we will never forget," they said.
Kathleen Coyle from Claudy went with her grandson Brodie, eight, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). He has had four open-heart surgeries and multiple catheter procedures, and spent months in hospital. "Seeing his wee face at Disney was pure magic," she said.
Joanne Cox from Enniskillen travelled with her daughter Catherine, four, who was diagnosed with CDKL5 deficiency disorder in November 2023. Catherine spends many weeks attending intensive therapies, and Mrs Cox said being able to enjoy a fun trip that was not therapy-based meant so much to her and to the family. "We had never flown with Catherine before, so having the NI Children to Lapland Trust with us every step of the way made the trip more accessible and much less stressful than our usual journeys to therapy," she said.
Susanne Keates from Antrim went with her daughter Maddison, five, who has spent around 80 days in hospital over the past few years because of recurring, sudden-onset severe bronchospasm. She thanked the A2 Paediatrics Ward at Antrim Area Hospital for putting Maddison's name forward.
Chelsea Simpson from Carrowdore, Newtownards, said her son Franklin, seven, who has cystic fibrosis, adores the Avengers, superheroes and Mickey Mouse. Agata Oliveira from Bangor said her daughter Leonor, nine, who was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in August 2023, was excited to meet the characters.
Each year NICLT also takes around 80 local children, accompanied by a parent or carer, to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland. That trip includes husky and reindeer rides, snowmobile safaris, sleigh rides and a meeting with Santa.
The charity receives no government or national funding and relies on donations. More information is available at nichildrentolapland.com.
