PHOTOS The Santa Experience 2024 supports Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation by gifting 180 families nationwide a visit to Santa

The 2024 Santa Experience is supporting the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation by gifting 180 families nationwide a visit to Santa. Jack & Jill offer support to families nationwide by providing in-home nursing care and respite support for children up to the age of 6 with severe to profound cognitive delay. To donate visit www.jackandjill.ie. Picture: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick

Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and the Santa Experience 2024 come together to spread festive joy and support children with complex needs

The much-loved Santa’s Magical Cabin has returned to Ireland, bringing festive fun, magic and merriment for families in Limerick, Cork, Dublin 1, Tallaght, Portlaoise and Ennis.

This year’s festive season got off to an extra-special start at The Jetland Shopping Centre, Limerick, as Rian Moloney (2) from Granagh in Limerick became the very first visitor to officially open Santa’s Magical Cabin nationwide.  Rian, joined by Mum, Rachel and Dad, Paul, was given this honour as he represents the 23 children currently being supported by the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation in Limerick and the 521 children currently supported by the charity across Ireland.   

The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation and the Santa Experience have come together at Jetland Shopping Centre this Christmas season to spread festive cheer and support children with complex needs.

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The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation is a nationwide charity that provides in-home nursing care and respite support to families with children who have complex medical needs.

Eileen O’Malley, Communications Manager with the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation highlighted the foundation has supported more than 520 children across Ireland this year alone.

Eileen said, “At Christmas, we are just so delighted to be here with Santa in the Santa Experience with one of our lovely families from Limerick, The Maloney’s for the first visit to Santa at the Santa Experience.

“The Santa Experience have been extremely generous this year by gifting Santa visits to lots of Jack and Jill families all over Ireland in their different locations, which is just amazing generosity.”

The support from the experience allows families to enjoy a moment of Christmas magic together, creating cherished family memories thanks to the generosity of the Santa Experiene’s donation of 180 Santa visits across the country with locations in Limerick, Dublin, Cork, Portlaoise, and Ennis.

Paul and Rachel, parents of young Rian, expressed their gratitude for the support they’ve received from Jack and Jill. “Since Rian came home from the hospital, they’ve provided us with a home nurse who cares for him, giving us peace of mind and time to enjoy being parents,” said Paul. “We’d be lost without them.”

Paul Moloney, the father of Rian who was the first Santa visitor on the day told I Love Limerick they have received “incredible support” from the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

“From the first week, Rian came home from the hospital we’ve had support and it’s been incredible. The journey is tough for many families like ours and they just made it that bit easier, for someone to come in and care and love your child and care for your child as much as you have, it’s just incredible. To do this for so many families all over the country, we’d be lost without them.”

Paul explained the family receive support through a home nurse who visits to help take care of Rian saying they’re “just safe knowing Rian is in safe hands” giving the family respite and “just enjoy time being parents”.

Speaking at the launch, Rian’s Mum, Rachel commented, “Jack and Jill has been part of our family since the very early days after Rian came home from hospital as a new baby.  The support is just amazing, it gives me back a few hours to myself, confident in the knowledge that Rian is being cared for by very safe hands.  Christmas time is full on in any household, but especially as I am caring fulltime for Rian; I don’t get a moment to plan and prepare. 

“Having the support from our Jack and Jill nurses gives me that time to enjoy the run up to Christmas and just give us back that little bit of normality.  Rian adores his nurses, they are a really important part of our household, and we will exchange gifts and enjoy Christmas with them just as much as we will any member of the family.”

Greg Clarke of the Santa Experience explained, “We’re delighted to be partnered with the Jack and Jill Foundation, a fantastic foundation. We’re a small family-run business ourselves in our 15th year, and this year we’re giving 180 spots to Jack and Jill families across the country in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Portlaoise, and Ennis.”

Even Santa himself had a message for the community saying, “When I’m sitting up in the North Pole and I look down and I look at organisations and I see the Jack and Jill Foundation and I see the tremendous work that they do and the service and support that they provide to families all over the country; It breaks your heart in one sense, but you’re so proud of what they actually do.”

He urged people to think of the Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation when considering making a donation this Christmas, “If you have the few bobs at Christmas and you’re looking at someone, somewhere to donate to, Jack and Jill is where you need to put it.”

You can book your spot with the Santa Experience 2024 through their website.

Head of Fundraising at Jack and Jill, Alie Sheridan commented, “Christmas is a time for families to gather together at home. Unfortunately for many of our Jack and Jill families, it can be a time of uncertainty, and their biggest Christmas wish is simply having their child at home with their family, where they belong.   We are grateful for the generosity of individuals and organisations, just like the Clarke family who run Santa’s Magical Cabin, whose kind donations make it possible for our service to keep going.  We are asking people to consider supporting Jack and Jill this Christmas by donating, supporting one of our Christmas fundraising initiatives or purchasing from our Christmas Collection to ensure we continue to provide our vital service to families in communities across the country, just like the Moloneys.”

Melanie Clarke from Santa’s Magical Cabin said, “As a family-run business for 15 years, family and community is at the heart of what we do.  We are in the business of creating magical memories for families and as such, we are delighted to get behind Jack and Jill as the Foundation aligns with our own values.  It is a charity that does remarkable work for families in communities all over Ireland and we are proud to play a part in supporting their mission. We encourage everyone who visits with us this Christmas to join us in making a real and meaningful difference for these wonderful families who need this vital service and wish all Jack and Jill families, and all the fabulous families who continue to support Santa’s Magical Cabin over the years, a very happy and peaceful Christmas, surrounded by their loved ones.”  

Pictures: Olena Oleksienko/ilovelimerick