Young Aussie cricketers receive helping hand from Woolworths to ensure they can pick fresh and play fresh

Woolworths is supporting grassroots cricket clubs across Australia by donating healthy smoothie kits to encourage young Aussies to pick fresh and play fresh.

More than 50 clubs across Australia have been selected to receive a smoothie kit from Woolworths valued at over $1000 each to help young cricketers to enjoy a healthy, delicious snack and fuel them to play to the best of their ability.

The kits, being delivered to club canteens in the coming weeks, include a commercial blender, Woolworths voucher to purchase fresh food, recipes, cups and straws. Clubs will also receive a counter card with a QR code for their canteen, which links to an interactive digital experience for participants.

Clubs from across Australia with a Woolworths Cricket Blast Centre were invited to enter the competition and were required to share, in twenty-five words or less, why they should receive the kits.

Remote cricket clubs as far as Bowen in Northern Queensland through to Deniliquin in New South Wales have been selected to receive the Woolworths smoothies kit, with local cricket clubs citing hot weather and healthy eating as the key drivers for their application.

Australian Women’s cricketer Sophie Molineux has put her support behind the campaign to encourage young Aussies to make healthy choices.

“This is such a great initiative, and it’s something I wish we had when I was going through my junior cricketing years,” Molineux said.

“Cricket clubs play such an important role in shaping a young cricketer’s habits and set them up for a healthy and nourishing life.”

“The Woolworths smoothies kits will no doubt be welcome additions to cricket clubs across Australia and get them through the hot summer days on the field.”.

The campaign is part of Woolworths Pick Fresh, Play Fresh initiative which aims to inspire healthy eating habits in Australian kids through sport, helping them play at their best and follow in their heroes’ footsteps.

Woolworths Head of Community & Sponsorships Sarah De La Mare said: “As Today’s Fresh Food People, we’re committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Australian kids.

“We’re proud to help club canteens across Australia fuel their young athletes with smoothies and help educate young cricket fans and their families about the natural connection between picking fresh and playing fresh.”

Cricket Australia’s Executive General Manager, Community Cricket & Capability, James Allsopp thanked Woolworths for supporting community cricket clubs across the country.

“We are very grateful for Woolworths’ continued investment into community cricket and for helping to push the message of healthy lifestyles through initiatives like this one.

“The smoothie kits will help encourage clubs to provide healthy snacks to their participants. It’s great that Woolworths and cricket can play a role in promoting healthy eating habits to junior cricketers across the country.”

“There is still plenty of summer time left for families to grab a smoothie from the participating clubs and register for a Woolworths Cricket Blast program.”

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