Pensioners put health and fitness first
More than 190 senior citizens visited the Blue Roof Life Spaces where they worked out, checked their health and socialised.
THE numbers continue to grow at the Wentworth wellness and fitness mornings, with the event on May 22 seeing 192 senior citizens gathered at the Blue Roof Life Spaces.
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Taariq Stokes, founder of Team Stokes Fitness, welcomed the pensioners from various parts of Durban South for a morning focused on promoting health, encouraging physical activity and fostering social connections.
“The senior citizens engaged in gentle exercise sessions and participated in wellness checks like glucose level and blood pressure tests. Ultimately, these mornings are also about giving the senior citizens a space to socialise and not feel alone,” said Stokes.
Visitors in action
The morning session also featured medical students from the University of Boulder in United States of America. The students, who are doing research in the Durban South, assisted in taking care of senior citizens’ needs.
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“It was such a special morning to have the US students witness the work we are doing here. Their humility was evident, they helped without hesitation, and their contribution made a truly significant impact. They were, quite simply, amazing,” he said.
Stokes added that having 192 pensioners join the morning is amazing. “Each passing month brings more and more people through our doors, which really underscores the vital importance of these kinds of initiatives for our senior community,” he said.
Gratitude for support
Various people helped make the day possible, said Stokes.
“I extend my sincere gratitude to Linda James from YESS NPO, Mediskills Academy, Lornays Caterers, Rennies Panelbeaters and Spraypainters and Shantell Kettley for their unwavering support and dedicated efforts toward this initiative,” said Stokes.
With nearly 200 pensioners now actively involved, the initiative demonstrates how collaborative community efforts can enhance the lives of older residents.
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