Celebrate my 40th by donating to The Hearing House

So – I’m hitting the big 4-0 on November 2. I’ve got plans on how to celebrate with family and friends that I’m really looking forward to.

But I’ve already started fielding the “what do you buy someone who is turning 40?” question. And I’ve figured out the answer! This year I have decided to donate my birthday to The Hearing House, the charity I work for that helps deaf and hearing impaired children with cochlear implants.

My colleagues teach these children to listen and speak just like their hearing peers.

The ultimate goal is that we can send a profoundly deaf 5-year-old off to mainstream school with the same speaking and hearing levels as their peers.

Stop and think about that for a moment………

A profoundly deaf child.

Going to mainstream school.

With the same speaking and hearing abilities as their peers.

Its magic isn’t it?!

Well, I think so. And after 16 months working at The Hearing House as the fundraising and communications manager I have seen the “magic” with my own eyes. The real life stories of youngsters like........

Henry http://www.hearinghouse.co.nz/anything-is-possible/henry-optican/

Gethin https://www.loudshirtdaynz.org/gethin

William https://www.loudshirtdaynz.org/william

.....and their families are inspiring (and it’s been an honour to write them).

The Hearing House has to fundraise year round to provide the life-changing audiology and therapy that enables a profoundly deaf person to do a raft of things that hearing people take for granted – talking on the phone, listening to music, following hobbies, career plans and dreams.

The work of The Hearing House means ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE for these young children – there are no limitations, nothing is holding them back.

Government funds cover about half of what we do. The rest of it is up to my colleague and I to fundraise for. And this year the fundraising is even more important as we are completing construction of an $8 million centre which will provide state-of-the-art facilities for our families, and adults who have cochlear implants.

To celebrate the big 4-0 I would like to extend the opportunity to my friends and family to help me support a cause that has become very, very close to my heart.

So while I will not be shaving my head, running a marathon or anything else equally as crazy, I would be grateful if you would please consider donating to my Give a Little page.

Here are a few suggestions.....

If you would:

- like a piece of birthday cake INSTEAD donate $3

- send me a card INSTEAD donate $5

- buy me a drink INSTEAD donate $10

- send me flowers INSTEAD donate $15

- give me a gift INSTEAD donate $25

- give me a really nice gift INSTEAD donate $50

- throw me a party INSTEAD donate $100

The money you help me raise will help pay for the life-changing weekly therapy sessions that these children and their families receive.

If you would like to acknowledge my birthday, I would love it if you would please DONATE!!

Thank you!

Mel