Players will wear rainbow coloured laces in their boots to help raise awareness for organ and tissue donation in young people, and, for the first time, the match-ball will be laced with Zaidee's rainbow laces, while the goal umpires will wave rainbow flags.
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation was established in memory of Zaidee Turner who died suddenly in 2004. Incredibly, Zaidee was the only child under the age of 16 years to donate her organs and tissues in Victoria during that year.
The Foundation was subsequently established to encourage all family members to discuss becoming an organ and tissue donor, should you be in the same unfortunate position as Zaidee was.
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation ambassador, Brad Sewell, encourages parents to have this discussion with their children.
“It may seem like a hard conversation to have with your kids, but when they realise that they could save other childrens' lives by donating their organs and tissue, you’ll be surprised at how receptive they are,” Sewell said.
“Hawthorn have been great supporters of the Foundation for the past three years and again this weekend is another proud day for the Turner family in watching the players run onto the MCG wearing Zaidee’s laces,” said Allan Turner - CEO of the Foundation and Zaidee’s proud father.
The symbol of a rainbow is representative of hope. After every storm, the sun shines and there is a rainbow. For those people on the transplant waiting list, the rainbow symbol offers them hope. At the end of their rainbow is an organ or tissue to improve their life, or in most cases, save their life.
To find out more or to get your own pair of Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces, visit zaidee.org
