Friday will mark Loud Shirt Day, an opportunity for community members to wear their loudest and brightest shirts while raising money for the Shepherd Centre that assists children who are deaf or hearing impaired.

For Kim Stubbs, the day is one that is close to her heart.

Her daughter Lacey was given the gift of hearing through Cochlear implants, after she was diagnosed as profoundly deaf at just six weeks old.

According to the local mum, you’d never know her bright and bubbly toddler had overcome the obstacle to enable her to hear in the early years of her life. 

Mrs Stubbs works at the Northern Inland Credit Union, which is supporting the day with donation boxes at their regional branches.

There’s also a crowd funding page set up for those wanting to donate online.

“Initially we found out that she had profound hearing loss when she was six weeks old at John Hunter Hospital,” she told The Leader.

“Because hearing loss wasn’t something in our family, it was obviously a massive shock and you do feel very sad and devastated.

“We didn’t know anything about cochlear implants and what options were out there.

“But once we found out about the implants and how they work we realised there really is no such thing as a silent world anymore.”

Mrs Stubbs said it was a big relief to know her little girl was able to hear and learn to talk, and the impairment would not hold her back.

Since then, she’s resolved to help other children, like Lacey, benefit from the gift of a cochlear implant.

While Lacey wasn’t assisted by The Shepherd Centre, Mrs Stubbs said Loud Shirt Day was a great cause to get behind.

“It’s still an opportunity to raise money for kids the same as Lacey,” Mrs Stubbs said.

“Wear anything bright with dots, stripes or crazy patterns – anything that stands out on Friday.

“Lacey will be wearing her loud shirt.”

For more information, or to donate to the cause, visit the Stubbs family’s Loud Shirt Day crowdfunding page at https://lsdsc17.everydayhero.com/au/kim.