Over 12 years into our partnership and the grand fundraising total stands at over £5.1million!
The partnership between Matalan and Alder Hey Children’s Charity began over 12 years ago, with the launch of our first product collaboration in 2014. What started as a five-year pledge to support the development of Alder Hey’s Research and Innovation Centre has grown into something truly special.
Since then, our annual pyjama collection has become a beloved tradition for families across the UK, with 100% of profits donated to Alder Hey.
Over the years, Matalan has supported key appeals, including our Surgical Neonatal Appeal, with the new unit set to open in 2026. To date, the partnership has raised over £5.1 million, thanks to Matalan’s passionate colleague fundraising and the continued success of our much-loved PJ campaigns.
Matalan x Alder Hey 2025
OUR FAMILY FAVOURITE PJS ARE BACK!
We are thrilled to celebrate the launch of the 2025 Alder Hey x Matalan family pyjama collection, marking an incredible 12 years of partnership between Matalan and Alder Hey Children’s Charity.
This much-loved campaign has become a tradition across the UK, bringing families together each autumn in matching pyjamas to show their support for Alder Hey. With 100% of profits donated to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, the campaign has already raised millions to fund life-changing projects, including the creation of our pioneering Research and Innovation Centre.
At the heart of this year’s collection are four incredible Alder Hey patients – Mia, Oscar, Lillie and Riziah – who brought the campaign to life alongside their families and the Alder Hey staff who have been part of their journeys. Their courage, spirit and determination are what makes this campaign so special. Read more about our little stars below..
This year’s pyjamas have been thoughtfully designed for the whole family, with features that prioritise comfort, style and accessibility – from super-soft brushed cotton to sensory-friendly details like tag-free finishes. Every purchase helps make a lasting difference by supporting nurse and Allied Health Professional-led research at Alder Hey. Research led by these clinical teams improves outcomes, safety and patient experience, helping us ensure a healthier, happier future for children and young people everywhere.
On our partnership and the new campaign, Katherine Davis, Chief Retail Officer at Matalan, said:
“We’re incredibly proud to continue our partnership with Alder Hey Children’s Charity for the 12th year. This campaign has become a cherished tradition for so many families, and we’re especially excited about the new 2025 design. It brings even more families the comfort and joy these pyjamas offer - all while supporting an amazing cause.”
Fiona Ashcroft, CEO of Alder Hey Children’s Charity, added:
“We are hugely grateful to Matalan for 12 years of incredible support. This partnership has become something really special, with families across the UK pulling on their PJs each year to show their love for Alder Hey. Together we’ve raised millions to fund vital projects for children and young people, and next year we’ll proudly celebrate entering our ‘teens’ as partners. We couldn’t be more thankful to Matalan, their colleagues and customers for standing with us to make such a lasting difference.”
The Alder Hey x Matalan pyjama collection will be available in selected Matalan stores and online here.
Meet Lillie
When mum Ainsley was just nine weeks pregnant with little Lillie, Lillie was diagnosed with Gastroschisis, a rare condition where the abdominal wall doesn’t form correctly, causing the bowel to develop outside the baby’s body. Straight after her birth, Lillie was blue-lighted to Alder Hey and, at just two hours old, underwent her first surgery. The surgery team successfully completed the bowel closure surgery in a two-hour operation. After three weeks in Alder Hey, Lillie made excellent progress, was discharged home and hasn’t looked back since
Mum Ainsley told us: “I honestly cannot thank Alder Hey enough – if it wasn’t for them, my little girl wouldn’t be here.”
Meet Oscar
After a quad biking accident, Oscar suffered multiple skull fractures, a whole eye socket fracture, as well as lacerations to his forehead. He also had two fractures in his spine, multiple fractures to his ribs and a hole in his lung. Teams across Alder Hey performed over six procedures in total, including ones to rebuild his face and skull.
Oscar spent nine days in total at Alder Hey before going home to spend Christmas with his mum Jessica, dad Paul and little brother Monty.
Jessica, Oscar’s mum, said: “They didn’t just save Oscar’s life, they held ours together when it felt like our world was falling apart.”
Meet Mia
Mia has a condition called Microtia and has had hearing loss in her right ear since she was born. Mia has tried all different types of hearing aids but has still struggled, particularly in noisy environments, and has had to learn to lip read from an early age. Recently, she underwent a successful procedure to receive the first paediatric Sentio ear implant in the entire North of England.
Not only has the implant helped Mia in her day-to-day life, but she is a keen performer who loves dancing, acting, and singing. “I love performing and one of the main problems I had was timing for songs, as I couldn’t hear the music in the songs, so this has helped my performance massively.”
Meet Riziah
Riziah (which comes from the word ‘resilient’) was born with a rare condition called Heterotaxy Syndrome, which causes internal organs to be abnormally arranged inside the body. In Riziah’s case, the condition caused her heart to mirror image itself which means her heart has two left sides. Heterotaxy syndrome also affects her other organs, such as her lungs, liver, bowel and spleen.
Despite many challenges over her nine years, Riziah continues to live up to her name, and continues to flourish.
When asked about Alder Hey, Riziah said: “Alder Hey is the best hospital in the world. They have helped me with all my surgeries and the staff make me feel like I’m a celebrity when I’m there.”
Andrea
Senior Neonatal Nurse
Sunil
ENT Consultant Surgeon
Chelsea
Respiratory Physiotherapist