The local charity which provides palliative care to over 3,500 babies, children and adults across NI each year, will go live with Radio Lapland - which can be found on 103.2FM - from December 1 until December 26. Hospice is aiming to raise £250,000 through this campaign and is calling on everyone to get behind the station and join in the fun!.

The organisation will also attempt to enter the charts with a song ‘It’s Christmas Time’, composed, performed and donated by Belfast band The VIPs. The song will be available to purchase on itunes and Amazon from November 17.

Radio Lapland will be based at Jennymount Business Park in north Belfast and will offer local businesses and organisations an opportunity to promote festive activities. It will also have celebrity hosts including former Coronation Street star and Northern Ireland football fanatic Charlie Lawson, BBC Northern Ireland’s Stephen Nolan, sports presenter Adrian Logan, comedian Ruairi McSorely, actress Oliva Nash and presenter Sarah Travers.

Radio Lapland is supported by another local station, Blast106. Shane Pearce, Blast106’s Breakfast Presenter and Station Director of Radio Lapland said: “Radio Lapland will change Christmas in Belfast forever! The station is a first of its kind for the city and promises to play continuous Christmas Classics on 103.2FM from December 1st. There will be choirs in the studio; there will be outside broadcasts too, and Radio Lapland will have big names hosting shows and popular guests throughout festive period.

“This is a great opportunity for everyone to get involved and all for two great reasons – to celebrate Christmas and to help Northern Ireland Hospice continue to provide the highest quality palliavite care to local people in our hospices and in the community.”

The VIPs’ Dee Hunter, who wrote ‘It’s Christmas Time’ said: “I had been thinking about writing a Christmas song for a few years and so when Northern Ireland Hospice contacted me to see how we could help them, the timing was perfect. It just so happened they were thinking along the same lines with the launch of Radio Lapland, so launching a new Christmnas song was a perfect fit”
He added: “The band were delighted to give their time and dedication to this song and we hope people will buy it with the knowledge that 100% of proceeds raised from sales will be donated to Northern Ireland Hospice and Northern Ireland Children’s Hospice.”

Claire Bradshaw, Head of Communications at Hospice commented: "This campaign is one of our most ambitious to date. We are delighted that Blast 106 have given us this opportunity and we are confident that Radio Lapland will become a regular feature in the festive calendar. 
At Hospice we are supported day in, day out by a wide range of indiviuals, communities and businesses. Without this support and campaigns such as Radio Lapland, we would not be able to provide much needed specialist care to those most in need in our communities."