Kids helping kids to see Santa

The programme features lively workshops to support physical fitness, positive mental health and overall well-being whilst raising funds for charity.

Maeve McLoughlin, of PreCore Active, explained: “I wanted to combine my two passions, drama and fitness, and develop a concept with a real positive outcome for those taking part that could make a real difference to this charity which has stolen my heart. We encourage children to be confident within their own skins, promoting positive body image and allowing them to be proud of their abilities. Not everyone is good at sports, but we can all be healthy and active.”

Set to benefit from the initiative is the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust.

The charity aims to fulfil the dreams of terminally-ill, long term ill and deserving children by giving them and their families wonderful experiences and memories that they will never forget.

The Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust needs to raise in excess of £200,000 per annum in order to bring the children, the families and the required medical staff to Lapland alone. Last year, the charity introduced an annual trip to EuroDisney.

Molly and Abby, nine-year-old twins, from Whiteabbey, who were both born with a condition called arthrogryposis, which causes a stiffening of the joints were amongst the group of children and families who visited Lapland last year.

Nicola Joyce, the girls’ mum, said: “The trip was amazing and the team from the hospital and the charity couldn’t have done enough to make it perfect. It was the most magical experience.”