11 brilliant photos of charity's 'magical' Lapland trip
Families with seriously ill children were taken on a special trip to Lapland this week - and the young visitors described meeting Santa as “the best day ever”.
For more than 30 years, the Nottingham-based When You Wish Upon a Star charity has given terminally-ill children and their families the once-in-a-lifetime chance to meet Santa Claus at his village.
The group of around 30 families visited a magical forest as they explored the snow-covered surroundings and enjoyed a firework display with guardians and family members.
Following a hot dinner and a chance to warm up, they were treated to a meeting with Santa Claus - where each child got the chance to tell him what they wanted for Christmas and receive an early present.
Coronation Street stars Ellie Leach and Brooke Vincent also joined the group for the festivities to help raise awareness of the trip and the work carried out by the charity.
Brave Lilyana McDaid from Derby, is recovering from leukaemia and was among the children on the visit. With the Lapland trip falling on the same day as her eighth birthday, she described the surprise visit as “the best present ever”.
Speaking at the Arctic Circle in Rovaniemi, Lilyana’s mum Kirn said: “She finished treatment in January and since then she’s come leaps and bounds and recovered very well.
“Now she has just has one condition that we’re hoping her body will recover from in the near future. When you’re caught up in the moments when they’re really poorly, you don’t see an end at all.
“The fact we’re then then able to enjoy special days like this, it’s amazing and it makes it all worthwhile. To see them enjoy days like this, it’s so magical.”
The children travelled from East Midlands Airport to Rovaniemi on a chartered TUI flight, courtesy of Nottingham developer Arran Bailey. The managing director of ALB Group raised £151,040 for the charity - money which was used to fund the chartered plane.
The chief executive of the When You Wish Upon a Star charity, Joe Williamson, said: “It’s all about giving children and families experiences they could only dream of, and we try and make that a reality.
“To bring 30 families to Lapland and see them all enjoying themselves and experience the real magic of Christmas, it’s such a special feeling.
“It’s a really proud moment for me to come and help the families with everything they’re going through. You can’t put it into words, but it’s absolute magic and everything that we try and aim for.”
To take part in the charity’s campaigns, please visit www.whenyouwishuponastar.org.uk.
Original article from Nottingham Post