25.04.2019

28 children and their families, more than 100 people, received a travel grant today, which marks the first day of the Icelandic summer. A total of 677 families have received support from the fund since it was founded 16 years ago. This was the 32nd allocation.

The fund is based on the life work and ideas of Peggy Helgason, the wife of Sigurður Helgason, former CEO of Flugleiðir and board member in the Icelandair Group. Peggy has volunteerd for years in children's facilities at Hospitals and has in many ways supported many ill children and their families. Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, former president of Iceland, is the patron of the fund.

Like previous allocations, the Icelandair flight attendant choir sang a few songs and all the children received a film ticket from Sambíóin.

The fund is financed with direct financial support from Icelandair, Saga Points from Saga Club members as well as spare change passengers can donate during flight. Funds are also collected with the sale of Vildarengillinn on board our aircraft, and with collection boxes at Keflavík airport and at Icelandair sales points. The Special Children Travel Fund also welcomes donations. A special contribution came from Peggy Helgason and Sigurður Helgason, who donated 20 million ISK this year to strengthen the fund even further. According to them: "It's a pleasure to support the good work that The Special Children Travel Fund does each year, and it's our pleasure to have been a part of it from the beginning."

Each grant gives the child a chance to go traveling with their family, all costs covered - flight, accommodation, allowance and tickets to a special even the child chooses.