The National Lottery regularly provide generous funding to Alder Hey Children’s Charity, allowing the charity to fund various life-changing programmes and initiatives across Alder Hey Hospital, all making a profound difference to the 450,000 children and young people that are cared for at the hospital every single year.

The group, some of whom have children who have been treated at Alder Hey, spent the day on-site at the Alder Centre, planting colourful borders alongside a new path and walkway.

Ceri Roscoe-Roberts and husband Paul, from Conwy, who won £1M on EuroMillions in November last year, say they owe their youngest son’s life to Alder Hey after his pushchair collapsed with him inside and Ceri was forced to resuscitate him.

Ceri added, “Without Alder Hey my youngest would not be here today. “The hospital does so much incredible work and I am truly honoured – thanks to my National Lottery win – to be back here today giving something back in terms of my time and contributing to a project which really will benefit thousands of people for many years to come.”

Tracy Wilson, Head of Philanthropy at Alder Hey Children’s Charity, said: “We are so grateful for the continued support of The National Lottery and all the lottery winners who joined us at the Alder Centre today. National Lottery funding makes such a difference at Alder Hey, and the garden is looking amazing already!”

The event was held at the Alder Centre, Alder Hey’s dedicated bereavement support centre. Head of the Alder Centre, Simon Riley, told us: “The Alder Centre is the first purpose-built child bereavement centre in the UK. Over the past 35 years, the centre has supported thousands of families and professionals by providing bereavement care and education for anyone affected by the death of a child at any age.

Our gardens are often our clients’ first introduction to the Alder Centre, the first and probably most difficult part of the journey – taking a step towards facing their grief. By planting a range of flowers and produce in the garden, we are able to welcome clients to our supportive community and plant the first seeds of our journeys together. Clients at the Alder Centre often return for many years, giving them the opportunity to see themselves grow both figuratively and literally over a long period of time, which is always touching to see.”

Everyone at Alder Hey Children’s Charity is so grateful to The National Lottery and all the lovely lottery winners for joining us in making a difference at the Alder Centre, it was a fantastic day filled with lots of laughter and smiling faces!