Max and friends pop on pyjamas to raise over £1,500 for charity that supported family

A little boy who spent January fighting for his life in a hospital far away from home has raised over £1,500 for The Sick Children’s Trust by holding a Pyjama Party.

One year old Max, from Chingford, organised the Pyjama Party at Asquith Nursery to say thank you to The Sick Children’s Trust for keeping his family by his side when he was rushed to The Royal London Hospital for lifesaving treatment.

Max was initially diagnosed with adenovirus at the family’s local hospital, Whipps Cross, and was put on a life-support machine before being transferred by ambulance to the paediatric critical care unit (PCCU) at The Royal London Hospital. Throughout his treatment, his parents Emma West and Miller Evans were supported at Stevenson House, free ‘Home from Home’ accommodation run by The Sick Children’s Trust. Mum Emma, 36, says:

“Stevenson House made it possible for us to be by Max’s hospital bedside without any difficulty. During such a distressing situation, The Sick Children’s Trust took care of the practicalities of everyday life.

“Initially we had booked into the nearby hotel but we wouldn’t have been able to maintain the costs indefinitely. The Sick Children’s Trust took the weight off our shoulders by providing a base close by to sleep, shower and safely leave our belongings in a comfortable, private room away from the hospital ward.

“The support provided by this incredible charity minimised some of the uncertainty you experience as a parent with a seriously ill child in hospital. Because of The Sick Children’s Trust, we could focus solely on being there for Max.”

Max, who is now doing really well and making lots of friends at nursery, wanted to say thank you to The Sick Children’s Trust, along with his parents, for its support and raise awareness by getting involved in its Pyjama Party fundraising campaign. Emma adds:

“Everyone at Max’s nursery got involved in the Pyjama Party and had so much fun getting sponsored to wear their pyjamas for the day! It was a great way to give something back to The Sick Children’s Trust to show them our appreciation for all their support.”

The Sick Children’s Trust’s Pyjama Party runs from Monday 16 October to Friday 20 October and encourages children to be sponsored to wear their pyjamas for the day and take part in various creative, active and educational activities. The charity runs ten ‘Homes from Home’ across the country, supporting around 4,000 families every year and relies on donations to keep its houses open. Vicki Roots, Community Fundraising Officer at The Sick Children’s Trust, says:

“We’d like to say a huge thank you to Max, his family and everyone at Asquith Nursery who joined in the Pyjama Party. As a charity, we rely entirely on voluntary donations to keep our ‘Homes from Home’ running and by raising over £1,500 Max will be keeping hundreds of families together when their child is seriously ill in hospital.”

If you’d like to take part in Pyjama Party, please email pyjamaparty@sickchildrenstrust.org or call 020 7283 4066 to request your free fundraising pack.