Blackmores Health and Hoops: Parallel Sports

Health and hoops is led by past and present NBL stars, along with passionate health and wellbeing brand ambassadors from Blackmores, both driven by the belief that Good Health Changes Everything.  

As part of an employee initiative, Blackmores employees participate in Health and Hoops clinics, alongside NBL stars, to drive their desire in further creating healthy change. 

On December 15, 2023, Try Boys Basketball Stadium in Geelong became a hub of inclusivity as 23 wheelchair basketballers of all ages participated in a clinic supported by 11 Blackmores volunteers. Organized with Parallel Sports, Geelong United Basketball, and the NBL, the event celebrated the power of adaptive sports.

Participants honed their skills in a supportive environment while embracing the joys of wheelchair basketball - a rapidly growing sport with roots in the 1940s. With Australia leading the global stage, clinics like this highlight the importance of inclusivity in sport. Blackmores, driven by its vision of promoting health through basketball, provided opportunities for participants to connect, thrive, and enjoy an empowering day.

“We exist to help people be active both mentally and physically,” Geelong United’s Mark Neeld said.

“Down here in Geelong, we have lots of kids who don’t always get to play sport - and they should. So days like today are really special to be able to provide that opportunity to these kids to jump in a chair,” Parallel Sports’ Chris Henderson said. 

“We saw a bunch of the Blackmores crew in the polos jump in the chairs and have a go as well. It was really exciting to see.”

About Parallel Sports
Parallel Sports provide support and engage individuals with physical disabilities, helping them to connect with community based sports. They facilitate a social mixed wheelchair basketball competition plus ongoing school and community group programs whilst also being involved the provision of adaptive equipment for people with mobility disability throughout the region for sports. The work Parallel Sports does to help physically disabled people in the Geelong region to experience the joy of basketball and other recreational sports, aligns with Blackmores’ value of empowering every individual to enjoy a healthy life. In line with the organisation’s guiding principles, together we hope to empower you all to have a fun and educational day that helps you feel happy and healthy.