Port Adelaide and Hawthorn will be playing for an added cause at AAMI Stadium on Sunday, raising awareness of the vital need for organ and tissue donation.

The Power and Hawks players will wear rainbow-coloured boot laces and vie for the Zaidee Trophy and Zaidee Medal in support of Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation.

The foundation is named after Zaidee Turner who died tragically in 2004 aged only seven. She was one of only six child organ donors that year and her gifts of life saved or helped up to seven people.

Port Adelaide is honoured to be joining Hawthorn in raising greater awareness of this important cause.

Power forward-midfielder Robbie Gray is an ambassador for the foundation.

“This is a very special community awareness program that has already helped to save lives of many people waiting for their transplant,” Robbie said.

“This is the second time the Port Adelaide players have worn the laces, and they’re very proud to do so.”

Zaidee’s father Allan - who is chief executive officer of the foundation - said there was still a great need for people to nominate themselves as organ donors.

“Our campaign is all about inspiring discussion within the family about the subject of organ and tissue donation,” Allan said.

“That will give hope to those currently on the transplant waiting list that they will have a better chance of receiving their transplant in time.”

Currently there are 49 children under the age of 19 waiting for a transplant in Australia. Many of these kids will die in the next 12 months before they receive a transplant due to the lack of donors at the end of life.

To find out more about the issue and to get your own pair of rainbow shoe laces visit zaidee.org.au