Young athletes from Redlands Little Athletics will have extra energy to train and compete with the local club set to receive four boxes a week of bananas during the athletics season.
The regular donations are part of a plan by the supermarket chain to donate more than 2 million bananas to athletics clubs around the nation.
Coles recently signed champion track and field athlete Sally Pearson as an ambassador for the next three years to promote Little Athletics, sport, health and wellbeing among young Australians.
Fresh from her win at the world championships in London, Pearson encouraged budding Redlands athletes to join Little Athletics this year.
“Little Athletics gave me the start I needed to be successful and fulfil my dreams,” she said.
“I encourage more kids across Australia to create their own story through athletics.
“I hope that the kids understand that it doesn’t matter if you’re not winning when you’re this age, you can always be an Olympic champion if your heart is set on it and you dream big.”
Pearson also welcomed the partnership between Little Athletics and Coles, which would provide necessary funding for local clubs.
“Little Athletics is a very important organisation that adds value to our children’s health and wellbeing. It’s essential to have funding and Coles is the answer to our prayers.
“I was also an ambassador for Coles leading up to the London Olympics and I’ve seen first-hand their passion for a healthy lifestyle and fresh food so I’m glad that I can be a part of that.
“I do remember coming back from training sessions and sometimes eating about five bananas, they are a favourite fruit of mine so I am very excited by Coles’ initiative to donate bananas to clubs.”
Cleveland Coles Store Support Manager Madeleine McGowan said Coles was delighted to be partnering with Little Athletics to help drive participation in Little Athletics in communities like the Redlands.
“We are passionate about our fresh food and we want to support health, fun and fitness in the community through our partnership with Little Athletics,”she said.
“We also know our customers in the Redlands love sport and getting involved with their local club.
“As well as our financial support, we wanted to donate bananas to energise local kids during training sessions.”
