According to official statistics, there are a growing number of people who could be described as ‘wellderly”.  The term was first coined by Harriet Harmon who used it to describe fit and active over-60’s who are making the most of their retirement.

Many of these people are still in work and those that aren’t, are contributing to society through volunteering or by looking after grandchildren. Others are taking on challenges they didn’t have time for when they were working or raising children, like 67-year-old Janice Preece:

“When I retired,” says Janice, “I was determined that I wanted to do something useful with my time. I qualified as a first aider and I now work as a volunteer at local events such as half marathons, carnivals and festivals. It’s given me the opportunity to go to events I wouldn’t normally have considered at my age and I’ve made some great friends along the way.”

A few weeks ago a man called Nicolas Crace hit the headlines when he became the oldest living donor in the country.  The volunteer driver for a local hospice was back riding his bike after three days.

A number of older people have also achieved some incredible feats of fitness recently, proving that in some cases, age is nothing more than a number. In May, 73 year old Tamme Watanebe became the oldest women to  reach the summit of Mount Everest while last year, Fauja Singh, from Ilford, became the oldest man to run a marathon at 100.

93-year-old, Tao Porchon-Lynch has recently been named the oldest yoga teacher in the world by the Guinness World Records while the world’s oldest female bodybuilder, Ernestine Shepherd, wakes up every day at 02:30 to fit in a 10 mile run before hitting the gym. She’s 75 years old!

Are you one of this growing army of ‘wellderly’. If so, we’d love to hear your story!