Atlantica - 01.12.2006, Page 71

AT L A N T I CA 69
est in working with children with special needs
began as a student at Arizona State University
when she helped raise funds for children with
illnesses or wh were going through a rough
period.
“For a corporation like Icelandair, it is a social
responsibility to give back to the community,
but none of this would be possible without the
donation of Icelandair passengers and I hope
they realize the great things they have done,”
says Áslaug.
For Sigrídur, her two sons and her sister, those
great things came in form of a trip to Orlando.
Her sister’s family and her parents also came
for their own holidays, so “everyone was there,”
she says.
A majority of children who are awarded a trip
choose Orlando for their dream trip, but football
fans have also selected London or Manchester to
watch their favorite players. A trip to Copenhagen
to take in the delights of Tivoli is popular too,
and one recent British recipient of the travel
fund, Jack, visited the set of LazyTown, Iceland’s
popular new show for kids. Jack’s stepfather,
Gavin Alexander, thought the trip was “hugely
beneficial” in terms of his autistic step-son’s
development. “Jack thought it was fantastic,”
he adds.
Eighty families have been awarded a vacation
from the Fund since its inception. The Fund’s
patron is former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir.
Vigdís, who was the world’s first democratically
elected female president, says her role with the
Fund is “one of the most marvelous things” she
has supported.
“It’s such a brilliant idea to gather money
in the airplanes for children that have so little
chance to travel and to make it possible for the
children and their families,” says Vigdís. “Because
we know that in families where there is a child
that is handicapped or ill, it has an effect on the
whole family.”
The effect of the Fund on the whole family
is something that Sigrídur also stresses. “When
I heard about the Fund, I thought they focused
a lot on the children themselves, but it is not
just the children. It is whole families who get to
be somewhere together. It is a great feeling for
me and Björn Leví to take Hrafnkell with us on
vacation.”
Sigrídur says the treatment they received on
holiday was “great”, from beginning to end. “I
loved how the stewardesses took care of us, like
nothing else mattered.”
Once they arrived at Disney World, Sigrídur
says that families with a disabled child are treated
like royalty. The family went to the front of every
line and the characters went out of their way to
be friendly with the kids – including the mock
abduction which so amused Hrafnkell.
Sigrídur’s other son enjoyed it just as much.
“Björn Leví was trying to plan how to visit every
park and ride,” she recalls. “But for me the most
memorable thing was just being with both of my
sons on a holiday and seeing them enjoy the best
of that world. It’s something I’m not normally
able to do.”
Vigdís says she is full of admiration for the
courage that these families have. “Of course it is
very difficult for the parents, but the brothers and
sisters are so understanding,” she says.
Though she thinks that being patron to the
Fund and witnessing the reality of families with
ill and handicapped children is one of the most
difficult things she’s had to do, Vigdís remains
more than happy to volunteer her time and work
with the Fund. “I am full of admiration and deep-
ly impressed about what a success it has been and
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to meet
these wonderful children.”
Sigrídur wrote a first-person diary on her son’s
behalf for the Special Children Travel Fund’s
website. The remarks conclude: “The day I flew
home, my mind wandered to the man Walt
Disney. How pleased would he be if he knew how
much his life work had made me happy? I had a
fantastically good time, and my family as well.
And I thought of the Icelandair Special Children
Travel Fund and how much they make families
like mine happy with their contribution.”
Sigrídur’s own thoughts on the site are more
succinct: “In the future, these moments will be
invaluable when we have other difficult circum-
stances to face.”
You can donate to the Icelandair Special Children
Travel Fund by placing leftover coins or notes in any
currency in the envelope in the seat pocket in front of
you. You can also donate points from your Icelandair
Frequent Flyer Account. a
ICELAND a
“For a corporation like Icelandair, it is a social responsibility to give
back to the community, but none of this would be possible
without the donation of Icelandair passengers...”
Former President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir says the Fund is
“one of the most marvelous things” she’s ever supported.
Left, Áslaug Thelma Einarsdóttir, Director of Corporate
Communications at Icelandair and manager of Vildarbörn
with recipients from the Vildarbörn Fund.
050-94ICELANDAtl606.indd 69 18.10.2006 23:12:21