Gift of giving: charity bringing Lapland magic to very special children
TWO young Co Down brothers have been the first to benefit from a charity campaign that has been forced to rethink its annual trip to Santa’s Grotto in Lapland due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT) was forced to cancel the flight to Lapland and instead has swapped air miles for garden visits.
The charity would normally take 100 local children battling life-threatening or life-limiting conditions to Santa’s Grotto but will now be delivering gifts to 101 very special children across Northern Ireland.
NICLT will deliver presents to the value of £200 to each of the children nominated by the five health trusts.
The campaign, which the charity has called ‘Three Steps to Christmas’, began with a detailed and touching letter from Santa to the 101 children nominated. Downpatrick was the first stop of the campaign where brothers Jamie and Daniel Rogan, were paid a visit by Santa’s helpers and elves, as well as former Ulster and Ireland winger Tommy Bowe.
Jamie and Daniel live with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a genetic disease which causes weakness and stiffness in the muscles.
Their mum Clare, said the work the NICLT do is “tremendous”.
“To be able to switch things around so quickly this year and still allow many children across Northern Ireland the chance to feel that Lapland magic has been extra special for us as a family, living with the impact of the boys’ lack of mobility and all that comes with that,” she said.
Former rugby star Tommy Bowe, added: “What [NICLT] do is absolutely fabulous and as the father of two young children myself, it was really special to see the sheer joy on the faces of the two lads and, boy, don’t they deserve those presents.”