An extraordinary experience is planned when Aalborg Ice Hockey Club (Aalborg Pirates), Cool East, and the handball department of Skalborg Sports Club gather underprivileged and vulnerable families and individuals for a day filled with community, experiences, and Christmas joy at Gigantium in Aalborg on December 20.

– We have sent out invitations through Aalborg Municipality, housing and care facilities, and several NGOs, and within 14 days all 960 spots were taken, says Peter Lauritsen, development manager at Aalborg Ice Hockey Club.

This is the second year in a row that the four associations are holding the event, which is titled 'Everyone has the right to a good Christmas.'

– Guests can expect an event-based day, and we look forward to giving everyone a great experience, says Peter Lauritsen, adding that it is an event that makes sense for the involved parties.

– It is an event that has great significance for the participants. We could have chosen to distribute bags with Christmas assistance, but by holding this event, we create experiences and good memories and a foundation for positive social communities with others.

The event will kick off at 3:30 PM with a welcome from the mayor of Aalborg Municipality, Lasse Frimand (S). A delicious Christmas menu will be served, and there will be a Santa Claus handing out candy bags to the children. There will also be an opportunity to watch an ice hockey match between Aalborg Pirates and Rødovre Mighty Bulls.

Additionally, there will be a Christmas bingo with prizes, where an increasingly well-known Aalborg resident has agreed to be the caller.

– We have gotten Finn Lund Nyby from the TV 2 program 'The Trouble with the Allotment Garden' to call out the numbers, says Peter Lauritsen.

Volunteers from the associations will take care of the practical aspects of the large Christmas event, and several students from Aalborg schools will also help ensure that the big event runs smoothly for everyone.

– In collaboration with Aalborg Municipality, we have launched a social project aimed at helping young people in vulnerable positions find part-time jobs. This involves students from 7th, 8th, and 9th grades in Aalborg Municipality, who are connected to the club for a three-month period, where they receive specific tasks and are prepared to take on a job outside the club, explains Peter Lauritsen.

Wishing for a good and memorable day

Fonden Sol og Strand, represented by Margit and Kjeld, will distribute around 2.5 million kroner in December, benefiting a total of 17 associations and organizations across the country. The event 'Everyone has the right to a good Christmas' receives 50,000 kroner, which covers expenses for hall rental, entertainment with music, Santa Claus, and candy bags.

– For many, the holiday season can be a financial challenge – especially if one already has a tight budget. Therefore, I am pleased that the fund has the opportunity to support an event like this, and I hope that everyone has a good and memorable day, says Margit Andersen, who, along with her now-deceased husband, founded the fund five years ago.