Best shorts forward for Cranford

Shorts are at the centre of a Cranford Hospice fundraising event. Photo File

Cranford Hospice is inviting schools, businesses, groups, organisations and individuals to wear their funkiest, loudest, brightest shorts on Wednesday 21 June, the shortest day of the year, to show their support for Cranford Hospice.

Life is too short, so have some fun, is the thinking behind this campaign that started in Waikato two years ago. This year, 15 hospices nationwide are organising their own Shortest Day and are aiming to start a national movement.

"Some people may find it a bit challenging wearing shorts for 1 day in winter, but we would like them to consider the challenges patients and their families face every day" Cranford Hospice chief executive Mrs Byford-Jones said.

"I have my rugby shorts all ready for the big day" says Mrs Byford-Jones who was prop in the 1998 England Rugby World Cup team.

Each year Cranford Hospice needs to fundraise $2.8 million or $7,700 per day to continue to deliver specialist palliative care services at no cost to patients or their families.

"We take our job, providing specialist palliative care, very seriously, and at the same time we encourage people to live every moment and have some fun" says Cranford Hospice Marketing and Fundraising Manager Nathalie van Dort.

"All our events are focused on 'living every moment' and we encourage everyone to make the most of life" Ms van Dort continues.

Anyone can participate by registering online at www.cranfordhospice.org.nz and wearing their shorts on Wednesday 21 June.

"Schools participate by asking for a gold coin donation from their students, which will be donated to Cranford Hospice. We ask that businesses pay a $200 registration fee to assist us in our fundraising efforts in a fun way, and anyone who wants to participate as an individual can make an online donation to Cranford Hospice.

"Part of the fun is posing for a picture which we will upload on our very popular Facebook page, which will automatically enter you into the photo competition."

There are 4 categories for this competition: best business/group, best school, best individual and a fan favourite which can be in either of those categories.

"We have some local businesses donating prizes and for Schools they could win a fantastic prize from local company Furnware.
"For those that are stuck for ideas, our three stores in Hastings, Napier and Waipukurau will have specials on shorts until Wednesday 21 June."