OVER 35,000 CHILDREN will wear their favourite pyjamas into preschool on Friday for Early Learning Ireland’s National Pyjama Day to raise money for the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) Hospice Care for Children Programme.

Early Childhood Ireland said it has been forced to order a reprint of registration packs this weekend due to the increased numbers taking part in the annual fundraising event, which is now in its tenth year.

It is estimated that over 1,400 children nationally are living with life-limiting illness in Ireland and funds raised by National Pyjama Day will be used by the IHF to fund five out of eight Children’s Outreach Nurses in the community. The programme offers support to families caring for seriously ill children in their own homes.

Sharon Foley, CEO of the IHF said that, thanks to the partnership with Early Childhood Ireland, it now has a medical consultant in place along with three Children’s Outreach nurses and another four are about to take up their posts.

Since its establishment in 2003, National Pyjama Day has raised over €1.73 million for children’s charities in Ireland and this year Early Childhood Ireland hopes to raise another €250,000 for the IHF’s Hospice Home Care for Children Programme which has been the recipient charity for the past 3 years.

Anyone involved in the early childhood care and education sector can participate in National Pyjama Day by registering online through www.earlychildhoodireland.ie and clicking the Pyjama Day Button for more information.

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