‘Help us reach for the skies for terminally ill children’

North Coast Integrated College principal, Paul Mullan, right and pupils Ross McDowell and Ryan Milligan handing over the cheque to Raymond Pollock for the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland Charity on behalf of the College.

Coleraine businessman Raymond Pollock and volunteer Yvonne Hegarty, who works at North Coast Integrated College, have revealed ambitious plans for the charity this year.

Yvonne told the Times: “We want the local community to support us more than ever before in terms of fundraising for the charity.

“Our aim is to take a plane out of the City of Derry airport with children from all over the North coast area.

Yvonne Hegarty, pictured with Raymond Pollock of the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland. Yvonne travelled with the charity to Lapland as a volunteer worker before Christmas.

“From 2007 to the present day the numbers have increased from just a party of eight children and their helpers to 48 children and their helpers “This year we want to increase these numbers even further.

“We want the plane from City of Derry filled with children. Please support our cause and contact myself or Raymond at any time.”

Just before Christmas, North Coast Integrated College principal Paul Mullan and pupils Ross McDowell and Ryan Milligan handed over a cheque to the charity. Ross and Ryan were the organisers of a volley ball match between pupils and staff.

Yvonne Hegarty also travelled with the charity that week to Lapland as a volunteer.

Volunteer Yvonne Hegarty, second from left, with families and children in Lapland.

Yvonne says the school will continue to support the charity in 2015 and is calling for the community to fundraise on its behalf also.

In Northern Ireland, at any given time, there are over 1000 children suffering from a terminal illness .

The aim of the Northern Ireland’s Children to Lapland Trust is to fulfil the dreams of terminally ill, long term ill and deserving children, by taking them to see Santa at his home in Lapland.

By doing so they are giving them a day they and their families will never forget.

The children who travel with the charity are nominated by their hospitals and doctors, who see for themselves the kids’ excitement grow as the day approaches.

Jack Rodgers MBE, Chairman of the charity, says: “I hope this year even more children will benefit and that many individuals and companies will support us in our fund raising efforts”

On the charity’s trips to Lapland everything is included – neither the kids nor the parents need to put their hands in their pockets – the flights the presents, the rides and the food. The aircraft and the resort are for our exclusive use for the entire day and there is full medical back up all the way, both in the air and the resort.

To learn more about the charity and how you can help, visit www.niclt.org/