At 88 years old, Olive D’Cruz is proof that age is no barrier to strength, independence, and an active lifestyle.
Four times a week, Olive attends back-to-back fitness classes at Vale Farm Leisure Centre, demonstrating an inspiring dedication to her health and wellbeing.
“My routine has kept me active for many years. I thoroughly enjoy it – the physical aspect, but also coming along to socialise and meet my friends. It’s good for me,” Olive said.
Olive is one of the leisure centre’s longest-serving members, having attended classes there for over 20 years.
She credits her fitness regime for keeping her mind sharp, saying, “It’s so important for your brain too, it keeps your brain active – otherwise I’d be sitting at home doing nothing!”
Olive’s advice to others is simple: “I have Rheumatoid arthritis, but if I can do it, you can do it. You must not think negative!”
Zak Melaini, Fitness Manager at Vale Farm Leisure Centre, has witnessed Olive’s commitment first-hand. “Olive is one of our longest-serving members, having attended classes here for over 20 years. Her back-to-back routine of body conditioning followed by yoga and stretch is a testament to her enthusiasm and dedication.
“Body conditioning class is a total body workout which combines cardiovascular, resistance and functional training, while yoga and stretch are fantastic for flexibility, balance and increasing the range of motion in your joints. We see Olive here rain or shine, and she’s a perfect example of how the right support can transform someone’s fitness at any age.”
Everyone Active, which manages Vale Farm Leisure Centre in partnership with Brent Council is featuring Olive’s story as part of its ‘Age is Just a Number’ campaign. Running from October to November, the initiative aims to promote active lifestyles among seniors and challenge age-related stereotypes.
Chris Williams, Everyone Active’s area contract manager, said, “Olive’s story perfectly captures the spirit of our ‘Age is Just a Number’ campaign. Her unwavering commitment to fitness at 88 is truly inspiring, showing that with the right mindset and support, age is no barrier to staying active and healthy.
“Whether it’s the physical benefits or the opportunity to interact with friends, as Olive mentioned, our programmes are designed to help people of all ages stay engaged and motivated.
“Our colleagues work hard to adapt our offerings for all abilities, ensuring everyone can achieve their goals in an inclusive environment.”
As part of the ‘Age is Just a Number’ campaign, Everyone Active is offering a range of activities designed for older adults across its more than 230 centres nationwide. The campaign, which launched on October 5th to coincide with Silver Sunday (the national day for older people), aims to encourage seniors to try new activities or engage in simple weekly exercises.
For more information about Age is Just a Number, visit: www.everyoneactive.com/promotion/ageisjustanumber/