THE founders of a Wirral charity that takes children with life-limiting illnesses to Lapland have recieved a prestigious award from the Prime Minister.

Karen Jones and Alan Johnson, both founding trustees of the Neston-based Northern Lights Children’s Charity, have worked tirelessly for 28 years to provide holidays for children with life limiting illnesses.

Every year they take children from the North of England, aged between six and 11, to experience dog sled rides, reindeers, snow-mobiles and the Northern Lights. They even get to visit Santa at his forest home by a frozen lake.

For their efforts, Karen and Alan received Points of Light awards from Prime Minister, David Cameron.

The accolade recognises outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.

Karen said: “I am delighted and honoured to receive this very unexpected award.

"As Chair of Northern Lights I am supported by a hard working team who have raised money to provide these very special holidays for the past 28 years.

"It is amazing to be recognised by the Prime Minister by being awarded with a Point of Light."

The charity was set up in memory of Alan Johnson's son, Christopher, who died from a brain tumour in 1987.

The children who go on the trips to Lapland are mainly treated at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool as well as hospitals on the Wirral.

They are nominated by medical staff and social workers at the hospitals, who can identify the children most in need.

Alan Johnson said: "The holidays provided by Northern Lights give the children an opportunity to forget, albeit for a short while, about their health problems.

"Something about the time spent in Lapland seems to give them renewed strength to carry on fighting their own particular illnesses.

"Being awarded a Point of Light is a great honour and one I could not have achieved without the help of the whole committee of Northern Lights.”

Karen and Alan are the 426th & 427th winners of the Points of Light award which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA and was first established by President George H. W. Bush.

More than 5,000 US Points of Light have been awarded and both President George H. W. Bush and President Barack Obama have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK which honours shining examples of volunteering across the country.

Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Point of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.

David Cameron said: "Karen and Alan have worked tirelessly for nearly 30 years to give children with life-limiting illnesses a magical trip of a lifetime at Christmas.

"As well as giving the children an incredible experience, they are helping to create wonderful memories for their families.

"I am delighted to recognise them as Points of Light this Christmas."