****Loud Shirt Day 2019

On a personal note, my dad, Bob, was severely hearing impaired for nearly all his life, until he too received a cochlear implant through the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme at age c.79. This transformed his final years and he was once again enthusiastically able to chat, listen to music, attend concerts and engage with people withh his full charm and intellect. The causes of Loud Shirt Day are very close to my heart.

Thank you for supporting me for Loud Shirt Day 2019: where we have fun, wear colour, and change the lives of New Zealand's deaf and hearing impaired children.

Loud Shirt Day is an annual event held every September, and is all about getting loud and raising funds to help deaf children who have cochlear implants and hearing aids learn to listen and speak.

On Loud Shirt Day, schools, businesses, community groups and individuals raise money by dressing up in a loud shirt, participating in a fun event and collecting as many donations as possible.

Among those who will benefit from this year's outrageous fashion crimes and generous donations, are our 2019 Campaign Stars: Aria, Rhythm, Cindy and Otis, pictured above. You can find their stories and many others on our website here: www.loudshirtdaynz.org/real-stories https://www.loudshirtdaynz.org/real-stories

These four are among the hundreds of New Zealand children who come to The Hearing House and the Southern Cochlear Implant Programme for audiology services and auditory-verbal therapy. All services are free to families.

Want to find out more? Visit www.loudshirtdaynz.org https://www.loudshirtdaynz.org/