Operation North Pole Brings Joy To Kids With Terminal Illnesses

Local fire and police departments in McHenry County will once again help to bring a little magic into the lives of children suffering from life-threatening illnesses. Operation North Pole will be held on Saturday, Dec. 15, and will begin with a breakfast feast for the children and their families. After, they will board a Metra train that will travel to the Pingree Road Metra station in Crystal Lake.

The train should arrive at 11:50 a.m. and will be met by the Crystal Lake and McHenry County fire and police department members who will hand out snacks and give gifts to the children and their families, according to a news release.

The North Pole Express train will remain in Crystal Lake for about 30 minutes while it changes tracks to then return to Des Plaines at 12:20 p.m. The North Pole Express, while heading back to Des Plaines, will have fire departments at every train station and train crossing along the route, waving and cheering the passengers on to their journey to the "North Pole," according to the news release.

The families will board buses in Des Plaines with a police and fire department escort to a Winter Wonderland where the "North Pole" awaits them. Operation North Pole is a day of celebration for the children with life threatening illnesses and their families and to have a day for the entire family to meet Santa and enjoy a day filled with wonderment, according to the news release.

More information via the Operation North Police website.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK