WAKE up on Friday, July 21 and leave your pyjamas on. It’s National Pyjama Day – the perfect excuse to stay in your comfy PJs all day long.

The event, run by The Pyjama Foundation, helps to raise much needed awareness and funds for children living in Australia’s foster care system.

The foundation aims to make a positive impact in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable kids by encouraging and leading them to improve their literacy and numeracy – a key to breaking a lifetime of disadvantage.

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The Pyjama Foundation’s founder and managing director, Bronwyn Sheehan, says this year’s event will be the biggest yet, since the event began in 2011.

“For the first time, we are seeing a huge increase in support for national Pyjama Day from all sorts of organisations, with registrations pouring in from all directions,” she said.

“National Pyjama Day is a unique event, and everyone wants to get on board because it’s fun and creates a totally different atmosphere in workplaces.”

“It is estimated 75 per cent of children in foster care do not finish schooling. Our aim is to see more children reaching their life potential.

“The earlier we help them the earlier we can help to make a difference and break the cycle of disadvantage these children often experience,” Ms Sheehan said.

The official date for Pyjama Day is July 21 but you can host a pyjama day any time throughout July or August.

Register your workplace today at www.thepyjamafoundation.com to receive your Pyjama Day kit to do your part for the more than 43,000 children in foster care.

Register your interest to receive your free Pyjama Day host kit. Your host kit will be filled with everything you need to plan, promote and organise your event. You can also download an event poster and customisable fundraising poster, as well as a whole bunch of other resources to get you started.

Invite your friends, family and/or colleagues via social media and email and encourage them to lock it in their calendar. Send a ‘save the date’ email once you’ve chosen a date and then follow up with a reminder closer to the event. If you’re hosting Pyjama Day at your workplace or school, make sure you put up some posters to remind everyone to dress up in their best bedtime look and to bring a small donation.

Plan where you are going to hold your Pyjama Day party. You can choose to set a theme (eg. onesies only, spots and tartan) and you can choose what you’ll do on the day – have morning tea, a book reading session or a pyjama dance…it’s totally up to you. You can also hold a raffle, sell some sweets or have competitions for the best pyjama outfit.

Now that you’re all set, it’s time to host your pyjama party with your friends, family, colleagues and/or students. Make sure you keep your donation box in a visible spot so people know where to donate their funds.

Remember to bank your funds online via your nominated banking preference – online via the fundraising platform, by electronic or direct deposit, by sending a cheque or by card.