Loud Shirt Day Fundraiser

LET'S GET LOUD FOR CHILDREN WITH HEARING LOSS  

Get ready to make some noise, with Queensland not-for-profit Hear and Say announcing the return of their 15th annual Loud Shirt Day fundraiser on Friday 22 October, to help give children born deaf or hard of hearing the gift of sound.  

With a 29-year history of supporting children born deaf across Queensland to hear, listen and speak, Hear and Say is calling on the community to register and don a bright shirt this Loud Shirt Day, to raise vital funds and awareness for kids with hearing loss.  

 "As a not-for-profit, we rely on the generosity of Queenslanders to help us ensure children with hearing loss are afforded access to our world-class hearing technology and spoken language therapy.  

Appointed as a 2021 Loud Shirt Day ambassador, LEGO Masters star and music teacher Andrew Tuppen is ready to make some noise for Hear and Say to help children with hearing loss reach their full potential.  

 
"I'm very excited to be a Loud Shirt Day ambassador for the second year in a row. As a music teacher and all round lover of loud shirts, I can't wait to see Queenslanders sport their wackiest shirts this 22 October," Mr Tuppen said.   

"Hearing is crucial as a music teacher, but it also brings so much joy and happiness to my life. I can't imagine a life without sound, which is why I encourage the community to get behind Hear and Say this Loud Shirt Day so we can raise vital funds and give the gift of sound."  

Hear and Say is also challenging Queensland small towns (fewer than 20,000 people) to rally the troops, throw on their most outrageously colourful shirts and donate to ensure children from rural areas can continue to receive Hear and Say's specialist support via telepractice.

 
Home to just 300 people, the outback Queensland town of Aramac is again vying for the title of 'Queensland's Loudest Town' after taking out second place in the 2020 competition – this year selling colourful caps to raise funds for Hear and Say's services.  

Kerryn Elliott is leading the Loud Shirt Day charge in Aramac to give youngsters with hearing loss, like her eight-year-old daughter Emily Geltch the ability to hear and speak.

"The support of Hear and Say has been truly miraculous and there is nothing more amazing than watching your child develop the skills to embrace a world full of laughter, joy and colour," said Ms Elliott.

"Loud Shirt Day is all about supporting children to live life to its fullest potential. No matter how big or small, we know first-hand that wearing a loud shirt and donating to Hear and Say will help the not-for-profit open worlds for children born deaf or hard of hearing."

For more information about Loud Shirt Day or to register an event, please visit www.hearandsay.com.au
and check out #loudshirtday, @loudshirtday and @hearandsay on social media.

About Hear and Say
Hear and Say has been a world-leading expert in hearing technology and listening and spoken language therapy for almost 30
years. Working in our five centres across Queensland and throughout the globe, Hear and Say is dedicated to opening worlds for all
people with hearing loss.
The Hear and Say team empowers individuals to live life connected with their friends, family and community. The non-profit
organisation shapes its work around the latest research and technology to best support the needs of children and adults impacted
by hearing loss and other sensory concerns. Together with families and health professionals, Hear and Say's inter-disciplinary early
intervention program strives to give children the gifts of hearing and speaking so they are not limited by hearing loss and can reach
milestones at the same time as their typically-hearing peers.
Hear and Say encourages early identification of hearing loss by supporting screening through its newborn and school programs, as
well as provide evidence-based training for health professionals and parents. The work Hear and Say does is underpinned by its
values and relies on the generous support of its networks, government and philanthropic partners to create impactful and
sustainable change.

For media enquiries, please contact:
Elise Hodgson, P4 Group
0490 424 584
elise@p4.com.au