Craig Wilson's wife Kat was diagnosed with terminal metastatic melanoma in late 2014. The brave husband shares his story as part of Waipuna Hospice's Shorts4Waipuna campaign, which aims to raise much-needed funds for the hospice.

When the Wilson family received news of the terminal diagnosis, it was vital Kat and her husband Craig kept their children fully informed about what was happening to their mother.

Kat and Craig wanted to ensure their children Myesha and Riley, then aged seven and nine, were aware of what the eventual outcome would be.

So Myesha and Riley began Play Therapy sessions at Tauranga's Waipuna Hospice in April 2015.

'It would have been far more difficult for us to support our children through this without the support, knowledge and guidance of Waipuna Hospice,” says Craig.

'The children were able to establish ways to help themselves deal with their feelings and emotions through a very tough time.

'Because we were dealing with our own emotions and feelings at the same time, having the hospice's support meant that the children have been able to get through this process and able to successfully manage their feelings and cope with life without their mum.

'I believe that as a direct result of this Play Therapy, they have been able to cope at school to a much higher degree than they otherwise would have.”

Since Kat's passing in June 2016 the children have continued to visit their Play Therapy leader on a weekly basis.

'They have come to deeply trust her as a safe way to express their innermost thoughts,” says Craig. 'I honestly do not know how they would have coped had it not been for the hospice.

'In my view, the children will be able to continue to grow as empathetic, caring and strong individuals, in spite of our ordeal, and I attribute so much of that to the Play Therapy sessions. I cannot stress this strongly enough.”

The Shorts4Waipuna campaign encourages Tauranga people to don their shorts on Wednesday, June 21 to raise funds for the hospice.

Craig strongly encourages the business community to get on-board with this campaign, have a few laughs and help raise much-needed funds for Waipuna Hospice.

For more information, visit www.waipuna-hospice.co.nz

Trish Rae with Myesha and Riley. And of course the other photo is of Myesha and Riley presenting me a cheque with funds raised from Omokoroa Point School during last year's Shorts4Waipuna appeal.