Carrick club’s ‘Lap the Lough’ raises £850 for Lapland trip charity

The charity provides children who are terminally ill or living with life limiting conditions with a range of experiences including trips to Santa Park in Roveniemi, Lapland.

The club set a target to cycle 2,800 miles - the flight distance to Lapland and back - over four weeks in June. This was done individually on the road and as a group via Zoom on stationary bikes due to restrictions.

Then in September, the club cycled 85 miles around Lough Neagh, aka Lap The Lough.

Stephen McCahon, club chairman, said: “Carrick Cycling Club has supported the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust for over five years and it is a charity that all members are very passionate about and that comes through each year as members still continue to raise money and challenge themselves in the process.

“I want to thank all members and committee members for their continued support even in these challenging times. We can all be very proud for another successful year raising money for our charity partners. Carrick Cycling Club’s purpose is all about community and this shows.

“I also want to thank everyone who donated to our charities and the support offered from Jim Adams, our club mechanic, who is always there to look after and support everyone when needed.”

NICLT was forced to cancel its yearly trip to Santa’s Grotto in Lapland in light of the pandemic and instead opted for a safer option, which saw it deliver gifts to the value of £200 to each of the children nominated by hospital trusts. Siblings of those affected by illness and/or disability also received smaller gifts.

The campaign, which the charity called ‘Three Steps to Christmas’, began with a detailed and touching letter from Santa to the 101 children nominated. This was followed up by a video greeting from the man himself, from his home in Lapland, with his head elf, Juju, by his side. The final stage saw 101 children across the province receive gifts right to their doorsteps in time for Christmas.

Click here to read: Charity gets £20k boost from businessman moved by children’s Covid-hit Santa trip reports

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