Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes
For the fourth yr, Senior Planet from AARP put out the decision for “Senior Planet Sponsored Athletes” — adults age 60 and older who’re enthusiastic about health, have recognized their wellness-related targets, and are prepared to share their experiences to encourage different older adults. After studying some 50 unimaginable functions, a range committee from Senior Planet chosen 5 new older grownup athletes. Their tales impressed us, and — we predict — will encourage you:
Lifting Weights and Spirits
“I hope that I’ll get to interact with different older adults who’re eager to turn into more healthy, and that my health journey can have a constructive affect to assist encourage them to start out their very own.”
-Della Adams
Della Adams – Age 63
Virtually 12 years in the past, Della Adams was in a critically harmful state of affairs together with her well being. After battling more and more worsening diabetes for greater than 15 years, weighing over 215 kilos at a peak of 5’1”, and struggling with excessive ldl cholesterol and arthritis, Della determined to make a drastic way of life adjustment. Via train and a dietary overhaul, Della reworked her well being; reversing her diabetes, getting her ldl cholesterol to a wholesome degree, and virtually utterly eliminating arthritis. Della now lives an energetic way of life and enjoys Olympic-style weightlifting, powerlifting, and working — ending her first half marathon in 2018! As a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete, Della hopes to have a constructive affect on different older adults and assist encourage them to start out their very own health journeys.
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Having a Ball
“I’ve been blessed with good well being and I feel my steady exercise degree has been a major purpose for that. For anybody who has been questioning….‘What the heck is Pickleball?’ or ‘How do I get began?’, I might love to assist them out.”
-Rick Clendenen
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Rick Clendenen – Age 73
In the event you’ve heard in regards to the rising sport of pickleball in recent times, however are curious to study extra, look no additional than Rick Clendenen. After enjoying for the primary time in Could 2021, Rick fell in love with the sport and have become concerned with an area membership on Camano Island, Washington state. Right this moment, along with being on the board of administrators and head of the competitors committee, Rick performs in tournaments and in addition spends time educating the “newbies” — who are sometimes age 60+! Rick finds that pickleball could be a enjoyable and wholesome exercise for older adults who could not have nice mobility, and his aim this yr as a Sponsored Athlete is to share “the enjoyment of pickleball” with the Senior Planet neighborhood. Rick’s motto is “Be your greatest, and have enjoyable!”
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Preventing In opposition to Frailty
“I wish to share my story with everybody {that a} analysis of osteoporosis doesn’t imply one can’t keep energetic. Sure varieties of train may even cease development and the necessity for medicine.”
-Kathleen Molloy
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Kathleen Molloy – Age 73
Kathleen Molloy’s health journey kicked into excessive gear virtually 13 years in the past, when she was identified with osteoporosis with danger for fracture in her decrease backbone. The information got here as a shock to Kathleen, as she usually exercised and tried to maintain a nutritious diet. Impressed by her son, Kathleen joined a CrossFit gymnasium and commenced working to enhance her food regimen and sleep sample. Extra lately, she additionally took up yoga for elevated mobility and suppleness. Via years of onerous work and willpower, Kathleen has stopped the development of osteoporosis and not wants weekly medicine. Kathleen’s aim as a Sponsored Athlete is to indicate the Senior Planet neighborhood that any practical health program is essential to 1’s bodily and psychological well-being. These packages sometimes assist individuals get stronger and higher on the on a regular basis actions that life calls for.
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Strolling the Stroll
“There are such a lot of simple actions we will take up: strolling, chair workout routines, dancing — actually something that retains us transferring and our hearts pumping so we will keep energetic longer.”
-Gerry Smith
Gerry Smith – Age 75
Gerry Smith is an avid walker and robust well being advocate for minority girls, who are sometimes underserved by the healthcare trade. Gerry grew to become severe about her personal well being over 5 years in the past when her physician knowledgeable her that she was pre-diabetic. After studying that she must add one other medicine to these she was already taking for blood stress and ldl cholesterol, Gerry made a dedication to strolling, and set a aim of 10,000 steps per day. After seeing main enhancements after simply three months of strolling, Gerry was impressed to share her wholesome habits with different girls like herself. She is now the chairperson of the Bodily and Psychological Well being committee for her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, offering alternatives for girls to enhance their well being by means of higher vitamin and train habits. As a Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete, Gerry desires to grow old adults up and transferring each day to maintain their hearts going and reside longer, extra energetic lives.
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Again On Monitor
“I wish to present as a lot encouragement as doable to my fellow seniors, particularly those that aren’t but totally dedicated to health. Being match is like getting a brand new lease on life.”
-Richard Westbrook
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Richard Westbrook – Age 70
Richard Westbrook found the enjoyment of working later in life and hasn’t seemed again! Richard competes in senior monitor meets, working sprints at 400m distances and below. He has gained varied native and state occasions, and positioned as excessive as 4th in nationwide meets for his age group. Regardless of his success, it took a drastic transformation to get “on monitor.” At age 58, Richard was 40 lbs. chubby, with bodily illnesses together with hypertension, poor levels of cholesterol, arthritic pains, neuralgia, and respiratory points. His choice to affix a gymnasium and start exercising frequently modified all the things. Right this moment, Richard says “I really feel unimaginable! I’m profoundly grateful to have the proverbial ‘second probability at life.’ ” His aim as a Sponsored Athlete is to take the assistance he has obtained on his personal health journey and pay it ahead.
How you can Observe Alongside
Every Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete has an inspiring story and a singular perspective on health, and every makes use of expertise to help their health routines. All yr lengthy, they’ll be inviting us into their lives, and sharing their challenges and successes by writing weblog posts right here on seniorplanet.org/athletes. They’ll additionally host digital health occasions all year long you can take part in.
Wish to compensate for the tales from final yr’s athletes? Click on right here! In want of a little bit motivation to get transferring? Be a part of our each day well being and wellness packages, subscribe to Senior Planet on YouTube, join our weekly newsletters, and comply with us on social media (Fb | Twitter | Instagram) to get to know these awe-inspiring athletes. You would possibly simply discover a new love for health alongside the way in which!
Sean Cruse is the Communications Supervisor at Senior Planet & OATS from AARP. He has labored in nonprofit and social good communications for nearly 10 years. Sean is concerned with all issues Senior Planet communications, from e-mail newsletters (enroll right here!) to artistic tasks. He additionally co-leads the Senior Planet Sponsored Athlete program and loves serving to our group of fantastic senior athletes share their tales.