Bowls Australia partner with Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation
Bowls Australia has today announced Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation as its new Official Charity Partner for the next two years.
ZRF was established in 2004 by CEO Allan Turner and his wife Kim, following the sudden death of their seven year-old daughter, Zaidee, from a burst blood vessel in the brain called Cerebral Aneurism.
At the time of Zaidee’s death the Turner family had been registered Organ and Tissue Donors for five years, which made it possible for Zaidee to donate her organs and tissues at the Royal Children’s Hospital, which resulted in the lives of up to seven other people being improved or saved.
Zaidee was also one of only six children to donate nationally and one of the youngest Australian donors on record that year.
Through this new partnership, Bowls Australia will assist ZRF to achieve its mission of inspiring discussion about organ and tissue donation to save and improve life by promoting the initiative to its members and participants.
ZRF will have a presence at the sport’s largest and most lucrative tournament, the $225,000 Australian Open, with an educational stand at Broadbeach Bowls Club, the final’s host venue.
The partnership will also extend to the national participation program Jack Attack, with all participants provided information on the relationship and details on the benefit of donation.
“Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation are doing essential work promoting organ and tissue awareness, donation and transplant, and I’m pleased to announce them as our Official Charity Partner,” Bowls Australia CEO Neil Dalrymple said.
“Our aim is to make organ and tissue donation awareness more prevalent in our community by informing bowlers of the importance of discussing these issues with their family members, should they ever be placed in the same situation as we were, with Zaidee’s sudden death,” Mr Turner said.
“We hope to greatly improve the donation rate year upon year, giving those that are currently on transplant waiting lists a better chance at getting their transplant by encouraging people to register as organ and tissue donors.”
Click here for more information on Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation.
Organ and tissue donation facts:
• One organ donor can transform the lives of 10 or more people.
• One tissue donor can transform the lives of 40 or more people.
• Around 1600 people are on Australian organ transplant waiting lists.
• In 2013, 391 organ donors gave 1,122 Australians a new chance in life.
Caption: Zaidee’s Rainbows Foundation CEO Allan Turner rolling up in ZRF’s signature rainbow shoelaces , which can be purchased for $2.00 to help raise awareness of organ and tissue donation to save and improve life.
