1,200 seniors engage in brisk walk or run in programme by People’s Association

Contributed by Karen Ho

About 800 seniors from Jalan Besar, Kreta Ayer-Kim Seng, Kebun Baru, MacPherson, Paya Lebar, Punggol South, Radin Mas and Whampoa Wellness Programme pilot sites gathered at the Hougang Stadium on 13 and 20 June 2009 to take part in a fitness assessment to test their fitness level.

Organised by the People's Association, the fitness assessment is part of the Wellness Programme which seeks to reach out to Singaporeans and Permanent Residents, aged 50 and above, to encourage them to adopt healthy lifestyles in a sustained manner and take ownership of their well-being.

Fitness assessment will help seniors see if the intensity and duration of the physical activities that they had been engaging in are giving the desired health-enhancing benefits. The participants could choose to do either a 2.4km run or 2km brisk walk.

Madam Jalihah, 59 years old, from the Radin Mas Wellness Centre was surprised that she could complete five rounds of walk around the stadium. Previously, she had knee problems and was easily breathless after walking a short distance.

Before the start of fitness assessment, she had told her husband that she would stop after the second round of walk around the stadium.

However, her fears proved to be unfounded as her fitness level has improved tremendously ever since she has joined the Wellness Programme and have been participating in the daily morning exercise at the centre with her neighbours and sister.

About 1,200 seniors from the Wellness Programme will undergo the fitness assessments in June 2009. There will be one upcoming session on 27 June at the Clementi Stadium.

This event is sponsored by Nestle Omega Plus.