Gisborne’s littlest athletes had been given a boost off the starting blocks with more than $4600 in funding from Coles Little Athletics Community Fund.
The Little Athletics centre based at Dixon Field, will use the funding for a collapsible hurdles cart, starting blocks, high jump stands and training aids to support its aspiring athletes and parent volunteers.
Gisborne Little Athletics president Drew Fisher said the new equipment will help to ensure the club remains sustainable and competitive.
“Over the past five years, we have nearly doubled our memberships of committed athletes at our centre,” he said.
“This grant will enable us to buy new equipment to help sustain our membership growth without having to sacrifice the quality of the program we offer.”
Dual paralympic medallist Jaryd Clifford said having the right equipment for young athletes is vital in helping them to achieve their best and strive for the next level.
“As a former little athlete, I know how important grant programs like [these] are to grassroots centres,” he said.
“Grants like these mean volunteers can focus on helping athletes succeed rather than having to spend their time and energy on fundraising to buy essential equipment.”
Gisborne was one of just forty national recipients announced, and coincides with the launch of the Little Athletics Banana A-Peel campaign.
Starting on national banana day on October 18, to October 24, Coles will donate 10 cents of every kilogram of cavendish bananas sold to the little athletics community fund to a maximum of $150,000.
