Miranda hops for Easter cheer

Bunny ears and inner city hospitals may seem an unlikely mix.

But it is exactly that combination that will give cheer to AIDS patients in Sydney this Easter Sunday.

That is the day the 17th annual Easter Bunny Project will dispense goodwill -“ and plenty of chocolate -“ to HIV/AIDS and other patients too sick to go home for the day.

The event, which started in 1989 with a single visitor sporting bunny ears at St Vincent’s hospital, features an all-singing troupe of about eight volunteers this year.

Our troupe is only small -¦ but that’s certainly enough to make our presence felt, said Miranda Fair, who has led the project since 1999.

Many of them can’t sing very well -¦ but it doesn’t matter because neither the patients nor the hospital staff really care. What matters to them is that we are there letting the patients know that we haven’t forgotten them.

As well as visiting St Vincent’s Public and Private hospitals, the Easter Bunny Project also plans to cheer up patients at Royal Prince Alfred and Royal North Shore hospitals.

The project depends on donations of Easter eggs and other chocolates.

Donations can be made at the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville or at The Bookshop Darlinghurst until 26 March. To volunteer on the day call Miranda Fair on 0419 979 844.