WEST Australian Football League players and umpires will wear rainbow bootlaces this weekend after teaming up with the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation.
Zaidee’s Day in the WAFL will help raise awareness about the importance of organ and tissue donation in Australia, with all players from Little League up to WAFL League to wear rainbow bootlaces in support of the cause.
Goal umpires at the televised South Fremantle v East Fremantle derby will also be waving rainbow flags.
Zaidee’s father and Foundation CEO Allan Turner will attend the derby luncheon at Fremantle Oval and said he was looking forward to the occasion.
“It is a fantastic result for the Foundation to have the support of over 800 WAFL players and officials,” Mr Turner said.
“The support the WAFL has offered has been outstanding from our perspective. It will be the biggest event we’ve ever had in WA and will certainly raise a lot of awareness.”
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation
Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner – aged 7 years and 22 days died suddenly on 2nd December 2004 from a burst blood vessel in her brain called a Cerebral Aneurism. Zaidee’s parents, Kim and Allan, founded Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation not long after.
At the time of Zaidee’s death the Turner family had been registered Organ and Tissue Donors for five years. As a result Zaidee donated her Organs and Tissues at the Royal Children’s Hospital, as were her wishes at the time. From this gift, the lives of 7 people (6 children and 1 adult) were improved and, in some cases, saved.
Zaidee was the only child in Victoria under the age of 16 years, and one of the youngest Australians to donate her organs and tissues in 2004. She was only 1 of 6 children nationally to donate their organs.
Zaidee’s Story is directed towards both children and adults so they can think about others who are waiting for a life saving operation and a suitable match for an organ or tissue. Think about giving this gift to others so they can live a better life and in some cases, have a second chance at life.
For more information visit: http://zaidee.org/
