Lanning and Finch running for organ and tissue donation awareness

Australian captains Meg Lanning and Aaron Finch are aiming to run 50kms throughout October for the Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Run for Life.

Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation has launched a running campaign to raise awareness for organ and tissue donation and push for Australia to follow the global trend to the ‘Opt-Out’ system for donation. The virtual running event will also raise money for the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute’s Child Heart Regeneration project.

Australian cricketers have supported Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation since it became the ACA’s official charity partner in 2013. Every season, a number of players have donned rainbow coloured bat-grips, laces and wristbands to help raise awareness for organ and tissue donations.

Australian Women’s Captain Meg Lanning has a long-standing relationship with Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and will be chasing her goal of 50kms throughout October.

“I’m proud and excited to come on board as a Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation Run for Life ambassador. The Foundation does an excellent job in raising awareness for organ and tissue donation,” Lanning said

“Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation has a long history with cricket and the players love supporting them. Hopefully people will jump on board and support a really good cause.”

Australian Men’s white-ball captain Aaron Finch has been one of the foundation’s biggest supporters over the years. Currently playing in the IPL, Finch is still doing his part to help raise awareness for the Run for Life and says the players love supporting Zaidee’s each season.

“Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation and cricket have had a great partnership over the years. The players love helping to raise awareness for organ and tissue donations each season through rainbow coloured bat-grips, laces and wristbands.

“Having been a Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation ambassador for some time, I’m excited to jump on board with Zaidee’s Run for Life, to try and create as much awareness as we can for this important cause.”

There is a growing gap between the need for organ and tissue transplants and the number of registered donors, with current registrations down by 20% compared to the same period last year. Zaidee’s Rainbow Foundation is lobbying the government to move from an Opt-In to an Opt-Out system to increase the donation rate in Australia.

Approximately 1,700 Australians are currently waitlisted for a transplant and a further 12,000 are on dialysis, many of whom would benefit from a kidney transplant.