Melbourne Victory has teamed with Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation as an official charity partner and will don a slightly different look when it hosts Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium this Sunday (kick off 3pm).
Melbourne Victory has teamed with Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation as an official charity partner and will don a slightly different look when it hosts Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium this Sunday (kick off 3pm).
Melbourne Victory players will wear Zaidee-s Rainbow Shoelaces, a concept created by Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, as part of the fight to raise greater awareness for organ and tissue donation.
The partnership is a first for Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation with a professional sporting club.
Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner was only seven when she died from a cerebral aneurism and wanted to ensure that her healthy organs and tissue were used to help other sick children.
Her wish was granted and it’s the Foundation’s hope that her actions will inspire both children and adults to register on the National Donor Registry and discuss this subject with their families ensuring that your wishes are carried out if you where ever in a position to be an organ and tissue donor.
Melbourne Victory CEO Geoff Miles said the club was delighted to welcome Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation on board as an official charity partner for 2009/10 and urged all Melbourne Victory fans to register as an organ and tissue donor.
“Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation, and the awareness of organ and tissue donation, is a wonderful cause and one that we as a club are proud to be part of,” Miles said.
“Zaidee’s gift of her organs and tissue allowed other children to have another birthday, whereas one in five people on the transplant waiting list may never get that chance if people do not become registered donors and discuss organ and tissue donation as a family.
“For those people on the transplant waiting list, the rainbow symbol offers them hope and at the end of their rainbow is an organ or tissue to improve or save their life.”
Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation CEO and Zaidee’s proud father Allan Turner added: “This is a very proud milestone in Zaidee-s Rainbow Foundation short history in becoming an official charity with a professional sport club.
“Having such a high profile national sporting team supporting Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation will assist and give hope to those waiting for their transplant, whilst allowing the greater community to become aware that the players and the club are taking a firm stance on such an important issue such as organ and tissue donation.
“Zaidee will be looking down on the players this weekend, and if she could she would give everyone of them a little kiss and a big hug to say, thank you for supporting her memory and campaign in wearing her rainbow shoelaces.
“We are very excited to form this partnership with Melbourne Victory encouraging all football fans to support organ and tissue donation.”
If you would like to register as an organ and tissue donor, or purchase a pair of Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces, please visit www.zaidee.org.
Zaidee’s Rainbow Shoelaces will also be available at this Sunday’s match against Wellington from the KFC marquee located outside Gate 5 on the Etihad Stadium concourse for $2.
| Follow Melbourne Victory on Facebook | Twitter | YouTube |
