Ormond Amateur Football Club who we play this week are right behind the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation
Zaidee Turner aged 7 years and 22 days old died suddenly on 2nd December 2004 from a cerebral aneurism at the Royal Children’s Hospital. Zaidee was the daughter of Allan and Kim Turner of Shepparton, Allan being a former Ormond Amateurs’ player.
At the time of Zaidee’s tragic death, the Turner family had been registered Organ and Tissue Donors and as a result Zaidee donated her organs and tissues as were her wishes. Zaidee however in 2004 was the only child in Victoria under the age of 16 years to donate her organs and tissues. In that year 160,000 Australians died but only 218 were Organ and Tissue Donors.
The Zaidee Rainbow Foundation was developed by Allan and Kim to raise national awareness of organ and tissue donation and in the last 12 months alone all the major sporting codes in Australia have started supporting the Foundation by wearing Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces. Most recently the Australian Woman’s soccer team the Matildas, wore the laces against Mexico at the MCG on 25th May to add to the long list of sporting clubs including NRL teams, basketball teams the Opals and Boomers, and our national netball and softball teams. Mike Brady of ‘Up there Cazaly’ fame has even written a song called “Zaidee’s Gift” in her memory.
According to Ormond Football Club President John Chisholm, Ormond is delighted to be the first VAFA Club to formally support the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation with its Seniors, Reserves and Under 19 players all wearing the brightly coloured shoelaces for their respective matches on Saturday 24 June.
In addition at the Seniors home match against St Bedes on that day, Allan and Kim Turner will be special guests at the pre match luncheon to be held at E.E. Gunn Reserve where Allan will address the luncheon guests and provide more detail on the history of the Foundation and give us an update on its national awareness campaign.
This very worthwhile cause is also supported by Ormond Junior Football Club and for their matches on the following weekend all the young players from U9’s to U17’s will all be wearing Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces. OAFC will also be selling at their home ground from 24th June pairs of Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces for $2- the whole proceeds of which will go to the Foundation.
Ormond Amateur Football Club welcomes all those from the local community whether football supporters or not to show their support for organ and tissue donation by attending its matches on 24 June and purchasing a pair of Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces.
Further information on OAFC’s support for the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation can be obtained from the President of OAFC John Chisholm (0419763391).
If you would like to attend our pre match lunch on June 24th please contact David Symes (0438066406) or Rod Strahan (0419375086).
For information on Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation itself contact Allan Turner on 0412985211 or visit the Foundation website: www.zaidee.org