Paddles Raised for Age Without Limits Day
WHERE you might regularly see students sculling, today it was an older generation who took to the
River Wear in Durham.
Clients of Age UK County Durham were out in canoes and on paddle boards to prove that ageing
doesn’t prevent adventure. Under the guidance of Adventure Access CIC, 30 participants, all aged 50
or over, took to the river, many trying the water sports for the first time. The combined age of the
day’s participants was over 1900 years. Age UK County Durham invited them to participate to
celebrate Age Without Limits Day, an annual day of campaigning. This year’s Age Without Limits Day
has the theme ‘Celebrate Ageing: Challenge Ageism’.
Robyn Holmes, Chief Executive of Age UK County Durham, commented: “Everyone here on the
River Wear today has challenged ageism, and challenged themselves. They’ve also enjoyed
themselves and enjoyed the company. It’s wonderful to watch people paddle board for the first
time in their 60s and 70s. Our oldest participant today is 78.
“Age Without Limits Day focusses attention on the judgements we make every day about ageing.
It’s an opportunity to consider why we do this, what makes us think growing older devalues a
person. Age UK County Durham is making the most of this day to show the many strengths, skills
and energy of people over 50 and to ask everyone to consider ageing as a positive and constructive
stage of our lives.”
Thelma Barnes, age 74, from Chester-le-Street, who spent an hour canoeing on the River Wear,
said: “I’ve really enjoyed my Wednesday morning, it’s been fantastic. People who’ve never been on
the water were nervous at first and then they were soon reassured by the people looking after us
that everything was going to be OK. And it was. We saw ducks, we saw birds, we’ve seen loads and
loads of wildlife. And I’ll be back again. I hope it’s done more often because I’ll certainly be putting
my name on the list.
“Age Without Limits is something I think is brilliant thing to live by. Forget how old you are. If
you’ve got the energy, get up there and do it, and if you haven’t got the energy find it from
somewhere.”
Age UK County Durham is the ‘go to’ organisation for anyone aged 50 or over living in County
Durham. Age UK County Durham is a stand-alone registered charitable organisation, and a brand
partner of Age UK.
