IN December 2004 Zaidee Rose Alexander Turner, aged seven years old suddenly passed away. At the time of her passing Zaidee’s wishes were to be an organ and tissue donor, so her parents Kim and Allan Turner followed her wishes, and from her gift, the lives of seven other people were saved or improved.
Allan Tuner has actively been Zaidee’s storyteller in her honour for almost 18 years now, forming ‘Zaidees Rainbow Foundation’ the year after her passing.
The role of Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation is to ‘inspire discussion’ and help raise awareness of the benefits of organ and tissue donations nationally, and what donations can provide for someone in need of a transplant, many times it can mean a life.
Recently, Allan Turner has been nominated for Social Entrepreneur of the Year in the Third Sector Awards, which is a national award celebrating and recognising the best NFP (not for profit) practices around Australia.
Allan said he was happy to be recognised and said he is merely the voice for people awaiting a transplant and the storyteller for his beautiful daughter Zaidee, in her memory.
“There is no story like Zaidee’s. I feel fortunate for the support we have received nationally over the years, and I will continue to inspire these important discussions,” said Allan
“At the moment, the donation rate is at its lowest it has been in years, have the conversation. It can save lives,” he added.
To vote for Allan in the Third Sector Awards for the phenomenal continuation of work he does nationally towards organ and tissue donation as the managing director for Zaidees Rainbow Foundation, please head to www.thirdsectorawards.com.au.
