Magical 'North Pole Express' experience for Ronald McDonald House kids

A Northland woman has created a unique treat for families in the spirit of Christmas.

Forty-nine people (families) from RMHC NZ’s Ronald McDonald House in Auckland
house have been gifted a ride on an old relic, brought back to life especially for the occasion.

Holly, 10 years old, was one of the lucky children living at Ronald McDonald house, gifted a ride for free. She enjoyed it with her family.

This will be the second Christmas they will spend away from home, but Holly and her sisters aren’t too concerned.

She says there are trees and decorations everywhere at Ronald McDonald house and her parents Debbie and Jim say the kids "have totally been spoilt rotten" by staff in the lead-up to Christmas.

Holly has aplastic anaemia - a rare bone disease affecting just one in 500,000 people.

This potentially fatal disease required weekly blood transfusions and - with a high risk of infection, it meant that it was impossible to carry out day to day activities.

She also needed a bone marrow transplant and her younger sister Belle proved to be a perfect match.

Holly was sent up to the National Children’s Hospital in Auckland to receive special medical treatment, while her parents Debbie and Jim and her three younger sisters stayed nearby at Ronald McDonald House.

Holly adores Christmas, and loves Santa. She says it's because he is "chubby".

The happiness of children was the motivation Northland mother Sarah Ferguson needed to put a very Kiwi North Pole Express back on the tracks.

Each child receives a golden ticket before boarding before, on the train, the magical storyline begins - the children yelling "I believe" ahead of Santa's arrival. Apparently he teleported to New Zealand from the North Pole for the experience.

Passengers were served chocolate milk, a cookie and sweet treats by their North Pole Express Chefs.

Every child also received a present from Santa's sleigh - a silver bell engraved with the word 'believe'. 

Newshub.