Both Port and the Hawks will be more colourful than usual at Adelaide Oval this Saturday night as both teams lace up with Zaidee’s Rainbow shoelaces, to help spread the word about Zaidee’s organ and tissue donation campaign.
“This is a very special community awareness program that has already helped to save lives of many people waiting for their transplant. This is the fourth year that both Port and Hawks players have worn the laces, and we’re very proud to do so,” says foundation ambassador Robbie Gray.
Kim and Allan Turner created Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation in memory of their daughter, Zaidee Turner, who tragically and suddenly died in 2004 at the age of seven after suffering a burst blood vessel in her brain.
On average around 150,000 Australians die each year, but the number of organ and tissue donors numbers less than 400 a year.
In 2013 we had the best result in the history of transplants in Australia with 391 donors giving 1122 recipients the greatest gift of all that year - vital tissues and organs.
When it comes to organ donation, Australia ranked 21st in the world.
Much needs to be improved and this is why this support from two great AFL clubs is so important to start a conversation about organ and tissue donation.
In 2004 when Zaidee died, she was the only Victorian child to donate her organs and tissues, and one of only six children to donate in the whole of Australia.
However, her organ and tissue gifts saved or improved the lives of up to seven other people.
“By encouraging parents to speak to their children about organ and tissue donation we hope that those family members currently on the transplant waiting list will have a better chance of receiving their transplant in time,” Allan Turner, CEO Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation said.
"Currently there are around 35 children under the age of 19 years waiting for a transplant in Australia, many of these kids will die in the next 12 months before they receive a transplant in Australia due to the lack of donors."
Zaidee gave the greatest gift of all after she died, her organs and tissue, so others could live a better life and in some cases, get another chance at life.
For more information about how to register as an organ and tissue donor please click onto our website www.zaidee.org to download a registration form.
