CARI-MED, through its nutritional drink, Ensure, yesterday announced a sponsorship package to five schools worth $450,000, as they prepare for the Boys and Girls Athletic Championship later this month.

Calabar, Immaculate, Holmwood, Wolmer’s Boys’ and Girls’ received warm-up shirts and Ensure products at a function held at the Stadium East field.

Allison Dexter, senior product manager, said Cari-Med has been doing this kind of sponsorship for the past six years.

They started with Kingston College and Holmwood, and this year will provide $300,000 worth of products to the schools and $150,000 worth of warm-up shirts.

Said Dexter: “It’s not a yesterday thing; Ensure for the past six years decided to look into the proper nutrition of our athletes in order for them to perform better.

“We want to make sure that your nutrition content is up to standard. Everybody thought Ensure was for the old and the sick, but it’s actually for the healthy and the energetic and that’s where you all come in,” noted Dexter.

Meanwhile, coach Michael Carr of Wolmer’s Girls’ thanked the sponsors and promised to deliver good performances at the meet.

Pete Smith, second vice president of the Calabar Old Boys Association, said they recognised the importance of nutrition for the development of athletes.