Derry children enjoy gift of Disney magic thanks to charity initiative

Twenty brave children from across Northern Ireland, all living with life-limiting or life-threatening conditions, enjoyed the trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris thanks to the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT).

A group of 44 people, including parents, local health professionals, and NICLT representatives, set off on Saturday for two days of Disney magic.

Among the children who travelled were Myla Donaghey (10) from Coleraine and Anna Deeney (10) from Derry.

The trip was carefully organised to ensure a safe and stress-free experience, supported by doctors and nurses from Causeway Hospital, NICLT General Manager Fiona Williamson, and board member Anna Kayes.

This initiative provides families with the opportunity to take a break from the daily challenges of managing serious health conditions and instead create joyful, lasting memories.

Fiona Williamson, General Manager, Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT), Donna O’Kane and Dr Sarah Mitchell from Causeway Hospital, and Anna Kayes, board member, NICLT.

Chairman Colin Barkley highlighted the importance of such trips: “We are committed to giving these incredible children and their families the chance to create unforgettable memories.

“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, fundraisers, and corporate partners—including The Bushmills Inn, WineFlair, C-Tec (NI), Glens of Antrim Potatoes, CosyRoof, Bells of Crossgar, Energystore, and Mango Contact Centre—we’ve been able to expand our reach and offer this wonderful experience.”

Left to right, Fiona Williamson, General Manager, Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust (NICLT), Anna Kayes, board member, NICLT, Dr Sarah Mitchell and Donna O’Kane from Causeway Hospital.

Colin added: “From the feedback we received, the trip to Disneyland Paris was an outstanding success despite the cancellation of our return flight, which required an additional night in a Paris airport hotel.

“The charity team was on hand to ensure that everyone felt fully supported. The strong bonds formed during the trip became clear, as parents, children, and our administrative and medical teams worked together to minimise the inconvenience.”

Myla Donaghey (10) from Coleraine.

Each year, Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust takes local children, accompanied by a parent or carer, to Rovaniemi in Finnish Lapland—home of Santa Claus. The trip includes husky and reindeer rides, snowmobile safaris, sleigh rides, and, of course, a magical meeting with Santa himself.

Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust receives no government or national funding and relies solely on donations to continue its work.

For more information or to support the charity, please visit: https://nichildrentolapland.com