Curtin University has hosted its inaugural Loud Shirt Day, raising funds for Telethon Speech & Hearing.
Loud Shirt Day is a national positive fundraising event which encourages participants to wear their loudest, brightest clothes and raise funds to help give the gift of sound and speech to hearing impaired children throughout Australia.
Telethon Speech & Hearing Chief Executive Officer Peta Monley said the money raised from Western Australian events would go toward teaching children with hearing, speech and language impairments how to listen and speak.
“We are very grateful to Curtin University for their support this year. The funds raised will make a huge difference to the families and children who attend Telethon Speech & Hearing. It will enable us to continue to provide the intensive therapy services to over 14,000 children and families that need our help and support each year,” Ms Monley said.
The 2015 Curtin Loud Shirt Day ambassador is Curtin web programmer Martin Smales, who was born profoundly deaf.
“When I was three years old, my mum and dad would clap their hands but my head did not turn. They took me to a hearing specialist to check my hearing and were told that I was deaf,” says Mr Smales.
Mr Smales said his parents were living in Kalgoorlie at the time of his diagnosis and due to the lack of specialist treatment, made the decision to move their family to Perth.
“My parents met with hearing specialists who decided I would be given hearing aids. There is no way I could have learned how to speak without the hearing aids.
“From my own experience, you can never take hearing for granted. Please come together as a community, lend a hand and support deaf children.”
Curtin Vice President Corporate Services Ian Callahan said the University was thrilled to host its inaugural Loud Shirt Day events.
“Loud Shirt Day is a great opportunity for us at Curtin to combine the fun of the day with a real purpose to help fund research and support for hearing impaired people,” Mr Callahan said.
Activities on the day included free hearing tests, roving performers, loud shirt painting, a Loud Shirt Day parade and food vans and market stalls. The public was encouraged to attend, wear a loud shirt and make a donation to Telethon Speech & Hearing.
To get loud and support children in Western Australia with hearing impairments, register online at www.loudshirtday.com.au.
