FORMER Blackburn Rovers favourite Craig Short has teamed up with his younger brother Chris in a bid to raise thousands of pounds for charity this summer.

Chris Short, a former masseur at Blackburn, and his colleague, Campbell Watt, are planning to row the English Channel in a boat as part of a unique charity challenge.

The daring voyage is the brainchild of Short junior and, together with the help of his older brother Craig, who has promised to man the support vessel, he is hoping to complete the challenge in just under five hours, with all funds raised going to Cancer Research, the homeless in Africa, and the construction of an orphanage in East Timor, Indonesia.

Chris said: "It's an exciting challenge and we're hoping to raise as much money as we possibly can for three great causes.

"The lads at Blackburn Rovers have already donated £3,000 between them, which is a great start, and the lads at Sheffield United have agreed to do similar.

"We've got two dates set aside for the row later in the summer, just in case one is bad for the weather, and we're hoping members of the public will lend their support by pledging money."

Short and his colleague, Campbell Watt, who was ranked one of the top 10 oarsmen in the world at 500 metres last year, have already begun training for the challenge by rowing half marathons on Concept 2 rowing machines four times a week.

The Ocean Rowing Society have also donated Marion', a 29-foot long boat that weighs almost a ton and has crossed the Atlantic twice, for the event, while New Zealand firm Chocolate Fish have sponsored the team's kit.

Sponsor forms are available from Ewood Park if you want to support the Shorts, or you can email donations to campbell824@tesco.net (stating the amounts and contact details).