90 years young and still walking

Health walks are available to anyone and everyone, whatever your age, as 90-year-old Jim from Action for Life Lingfield walk scheme proves.

90-year-old Jim with fellow walkers from the East Surrey Action for Life walk scheme in Lingfield.

Jim is Action for Life Lingfield walking group's first 90-year-old walker (although there are others in the group who are fast approaching that landmark!). 

A retired aviation engineer with the RAF, Jim joined the group in 2008 and is proof that you're never too old to get out walking.

'Walking and talking'

Jim explains why he got involved:

"Losing my wife in 1999 caused me loneliness. Friends suggested I join this walking group.

I enjoy meeting the others - walking and talking, and I shall continue to enjoy walking for as long as possible."

This Action for Life group, which meets in Lingfield, East Surrey, is a dedicated and diverse group that meet at their local community centre every Monday morning.

They cater for walkers of different levels of experience and fitness by splitting into two groups each week. There is a short walk of up to 2 miles and a longer walk up to 4 miles. The long walk is divided into a slow and a fast group so everyone can find the pace that suits them.

Well supported

The group is also blessed with a large number of volunteer walk leaders - 16 at last count, who spread themselves out over the groups and stay in contact by mobile phone.

Because they are so well supported by volunteers, the group has been able to put on a dedicated short walk for a recovering stroke victim, who turns up every week without fail.

22 June 2010