Ballyclare-based company Hagan Homes has raised £40,000 to help make the dreams of over 100 local children with terminal illness and life-limiting conditions come true.

The money will go to the Northern Ireland Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust and will fund a wonderful trip to Lapland today, Tuesday 17 December 2019.

Five Hagan Homes employees, Jim Burke, Matthew Hamilton, Andrea Sinclair, Lorraine Weir and Stephen Mitchell, completed a 51m abseil down the Europa Hotel in Belfast in the summer and raised £20K in sponsorship which Hagan Homes' Chairman James Hagan has matched with a £20K donation.

The NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust is a charity that aims to fulfil the dreams of terminally ill, life limited and deserving children by taking them on a trip of a lifetime to see Santa at his home in Lapland.

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Thanking the Hagan Homes team, Colin Barkley, chair of the NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust, said: "The support of Hagan Homes has been nothing short of incredible! Our sincere thanks to James Hagan and everyone who supported the abseil event so generously, and, of course, to Jim Burke and his intrepid team of abseilers!"

Jim Burke, Director of Sales and Acquisition at Hagan Homes discussed the fundraising effort, saying: "I'd like to thank everyone who made a donation to the Hagan Homes' team. We have worked closely with NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust for many years. What they offer terminally ill or life limited children and their families is absolutely priceless - creating magical memories by helping them to travel on a trip of a lifetime to Lapland. It is undoubtedly one of the most rewarding and deserving charities."

In Northern Ireland, at any given time, there are over 1500 children suffering from a terminal illness or life limiting illness.

The NI Children to Lapland and Days to Remember Trust does not receive any government or national funding; it is totally reliant on donations. Trips are made possible by the generosity of many individuals and companies.

Children are nominated by health workers based throughout all of the paediatric departments and hospitals in Northern Ireland. Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals give up their own time to volunteer to ensure the children can experience a magical time of memories.