Loud and proud for charities

Sunday Star-Times

TAKE IT OFF: You could win the shirt off Rhys Darby's back.

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Two of New Zealand's most recognisable entertainers are giving the shirts off their backs for a good cause.

Or in the case of comedian Rhys Darby of Flight of the  Conchords' fame - five shirts.  And one of them could be yours.

But if Darby's style isn't what you fancy, there's the Cheryl West option: two shirts worn by Robyn Malcolm's character on the hit TV show Outrageous Fortune. Still not convinced? Then how about US rocker Alice Cooper's T-shirt?

It's all part of Loud Shirt Day, the annual appeal of The Hearing House and Southern Cochlear Implant Paediatric Programme. Each year up to 170 New Zealand children are born with a hearing problem, a figure expected to increase as newborn hearing screening programmes become established across the country.

For one week from Tuesday, the shirts, signed by Darby and Malcolm, will be auctioned on online auction site TradeMe.

And be warned, the shirts from Darby's wardrobe feature a wide variety of animals, outer space scenes and fish and the Cheryl West contributions contain see-through black lace.

In addition, there is a competition for which entrants must film themselves wearing a loud shirt. The winner, judged by Darby, will win a signed T-shirt featuring a roaring dinosaur.

Entrants should post shirt videos on YouTube and email loudshirtday@hearinghouse.co.nz with the link.

* www.loudshirtday.co.nz