Charity That's Fit To Lace Players' Boots
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday March 16, 2007
WHEN the NRL kicks off tonight, look carefully at the laces in the players' boots. Not black, not white, but a rainbow explosion of colour. All of the players have agreed to change their laces in this week's games for the Zaidee Rainbow Foundation, which tackles the sensitive topic of organ and tissue donation by children.
This foundation is the first of five charities that the NRL has decided to support in a structured manner, rather than handing out signed footballs and jerseys for fundraising causes.The NRL players were polled on which causes they wanted to be associated with and, in line with their wishes, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Youngcare, Lifeline and Children's Hospitals will all benefit from advertising on the grass of the Sunday match of the day for blocks of six weeks, and have opportunities to work with the home clubs to further fund-raise."It was very clear to us that the footballers were keen to help kids with illnesses, kids with disabilities and also causes that help battle depression," NRL community relations manager Trish Crews said."We have brought the charities under a new banner called One Community, so that we can help these causes and also showcase just how much the league clubs and footballers do in the community. The players are often seen bringing smiles to kids' faces in hospitals, but they do so much more in other ways."Seven-year-old Zaidee Turner died of a burst blood vessel in her brain in 2004, and that year she was only one of six children in the country to donate her organs. "It is a simple gesture, changing their shoelaces, but hopefully it will encourage discussion among people about organ donation," Crews said.
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald