11/09/2019

Bushmills Inn Names NI Children To Lapland As Charity Partner

The Bushmills Inn has named the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust as one of its nominated charities for the next three years.

The charity fundraises to fulfil the dreams of terminally ill, life limited and deserving children by taking them to see Santa at his home in Lapland, Finland and creating magical memories that their families can treasure forever.

Some £15,700 has been raised in the last three years through generations from the hotel and their customers to allow the charity to continue its vital work and make the dreams of many more children come true.

Discussing the partnership, Hotel Manager at the Bushmills Inn, Alan Walls said he is delighted to formalise the support into a three-year funding partnership: "The charity fundraises to fulfil the dreams of terminally ill, life limited and deserving children by taking them to see Santa at his home in Lapland, Finland and creating magical memories that their families can treasure forever.

"We have seen the difference that we can make and are delighted to formalise our support through a three-year fundraising partnership. It is such a deserving cause and we hope to further raise awareness of the charity’s work and in the process generate even more funds to make the dreams of many more children come true."

Raymond Pollock MBE, Trustee at the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, welcomed the announcement: "The Bushmills Inn has been supporting the charity for the last three years and they have raised a significant amount, making a huge difference to the lives of deserving, terminally and long-term ill children. The fact that they have announced they will be working to raise even more funds for the charity for the next three years is fantastic news. We are extremely grateful to the Bushmills Inn and to all of their patrons."

The charity's next trip to Lapland is scheduled to take place on 17 December 2019. Around 100 children, who are nominated by health workers based throughout all of the paediatric departments and hospitals in Northern Ireland, will make the journey. They will be accompanied by doctors, nurses and allied health professionals who give up their own time to volunteer to ensure the children can experience a magical time of memories.

In Northern Ireland, at any given time, there are approximately 1500 children suffering from a terminal or life limiting illness. Discussing the important role that the charity plays in creating magical memories for life limited children Colin Barkley, the Trust's chair, said: "Fundraising is at the core of everything we do. The simple fact is that the more money we raise, the more children we can help and at the end of the day this is what we are here to do. To date over 1100 very special local children have enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to Lapland.

"We are the only charity in the world to charter a private plane for 220 to Lapland in Finland. We started with a 140-seater aircraft, increasing a number of years ago to a 220-seater, and we are keen to increase that once again to a 320-seater for December 2020."

The charity's President, broadcaster and journalist Gerry Kelly, encouraged people to support the fundraising efforts: "For the past few years we have been able to take the children to Santa Park in Roveniemi, the official hometown of Santa Claus on the Arctic Circle in Lapland in Finland. It is an incredible underground facility which offers just about everything the kids could wish for as well as the space outside for all of the traditional 'snow fun' activities.

"The fantastic fun-packed day includes reindeer and husky dog rides; mini skidoo adventures; snow mobile safari; and magic sleigh rides which are all brought in exclusively to the resort for our children. Other highlights include Mrs Claus Gingerbread Bakery; Santa’s office; Ice Gallery; Crossing the Arctic Circle; Angry Birds activity area; elf school and workshop; elves' post office; and a private meeting with Santa Claus in his grotto! It is truly a magical day."



(JG)

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