Hospital pyjama appeal marks decade of donations

A charity which gifts pairs of pyjamas to children in hospital over Christmas has marked its 10th anniversary.

Jim-Jams for Jamie was set up in 2015 by the family of Jamie Inglis, from York, who died from neuroblastoma in 2013 at the age of seven.

His mum, Vicky, said she could not believe the campaign had been running for a decade and said they had given out almost 6,000 pairs of pyjamas over that period.

The York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity said they were grateful for the latest donations from the charity which marked "10 years of amazing support".

Mrs Inglis said her son, who she described as a "happy, cheerful and cheeky little boy," had been diagnosed with neuroblastoma in 2009.

"Throughout everything he just remained so tenacious, resilient and everybody loved him," she said.

"He had such a character and he is so loved and missed by so many people."

She said the idea for the charity was to remember her son but also about to bring some comfort to children and their families facing Christmas in hospital.

"Ultimately they are away from home. Christmas is a time for being in your own home with loved ones."

She said to have that changed with a hospital stay and hospital visits was "really difficult" for families but that she hoped "receiving a pair of jim jams helps make them feel they are being remembered".

Among those to support the campaign this year was Jamie's former primary school Lord Deramore's at Heslington, near York, who donated over 90 pairs.

Once collected, the pyjamas are distributed to 10 hospitals across Yorkshire and the North East.

The York & Scarborough Hospitals Charity said in a post on social media: "A huge thank you to Jim-Jams for Jamie for the latest donation of pyjamas and for 10 years of amazing support.

"This year's appeal was bigger than ever, with hundreds of pyjamas collected and distributed across local hospitals - bringing much-needed comfort to so many children this festive period."

Mrs Inglis said it had been "really special" to reach the milestone this year, adding: "I can't believe it has been running for ten years.

"Jamie's army and new supporters are always backing us and without them we couldn't do what we do to bring a bit more comfort to children in hospital."

Since 2015 the appeal has donated 5,998 pairs of pyjamas she said, and she hoped her son would be "amazed" by what they have done.

Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.