DORSET residents are being encouraged to choose some fun and fancy footwear to use for a charity event happening later this year.

Lewis-Manning Hospice, on Crichel Mount Road, in Lilliput, has organised the Walk A Mile in Somebody Else’s Shoes event, taking place on Sunday, September 21, which aims to get families, workplaces, and groups outside for a good cause.

Flippers, clogs, slippers, tap shoes, stilettos and wellies are all suitable forms of footwear for children and adults to don for the event, starting at 2pm, from the war memorial in Bournemouth Gardens to the Pier and back.

Maria Tidy, fundraising manager, said: “The point to the idea is putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, so that people think about the patients at the hospice and their own families, and perhaps how lucky they are to not be in the same position.

She added: “Find yourself some funky shoes and take part.”

Lewis-Manning Hospice cares for over 650 local people living with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, who will be opening their new en-suite bedrooms, offering respite, rehabilitation and end-of-life car, on the ground floor later this Spring.

Simon Pennell, Lewis-Manning’s resident doctor, who thought up Walk A Mile in Somebody Else’s Shoes event, said: “We just want people to walk in someone else’s shoes and see what life might be like for other people.

“The original concept is that perhaps children could walk in their parent’s shoes and as a family, you could all swap shoes.

“It can trigger memories and make people think about others’ lives.”

Entry £10 per adult to enter and £5 each for children and young people under 16 years-of-age, with the suggested minimum sponsorship at £25 per adult and £15 per child.

For more information, go to Lewis-manning.co.uk or call the Fundraising office on 01202 708470.