THE Association for The Aged (Tafta) held its annual Senior Athletics Sports Day at the Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre in Greyville on Monday (September 7). The elderly brought their A-game, and one club claimed the silverware.
Through a series of six different challenges, the older participants, comprised of Tafta residents and club members 60 years and older, broke ageing barriers with an astounding display of hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, agility and speed. At the end of the day, it was the Happy Hearts Club that emerged victorious.
Tafta CFO Nita Sewpersad praised the efforts of all participants, saying, “It is awe-inspiring to see older people step up and embody the active ageing lifestyle that our organisation aims to promote. We are often presented with a negative view of ageing in this technology-driven world where stigma and discrimination formulate opinions. However, when we look at the real world around us, there is energy, vigour and passion to be admired among the older generation. Villages, rural areas and even some urban households are centred around the contributions of grandparents and elders, whether it be at home or in their community. To every participant who braved the hot sun and competitive energy of our sports day, we see you, and we are proud!”
Lorraine Pretorius, a member of the Wentworth-based Community Club, the Happy Hearts Club, said, “With a reduced team and our recovery from participating in the Golden Games over the weekend, I was absolutely shocked that we had the highest score overall. We are all so happy and proud that we won Tafta’s 2024 Sports Day, and we are so grateful for the support and for a great day interacting with the Tafta family. Thank you all very much.”
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Vigie Reddy, a resident of Tafta Kings Hall, expressed her anticipation for the 2024 Sports Day, saying, “We had an amazing day of fun and exciting races. The meals were excellent. We are very grateful for all the sponsors, staff and volunteers and look forward to next year.”
Divisional manager of operations Yoshina Kistensamy was thankful for the support of the Tafta staff and the community in making the event a success. “Witnessing the effortless integration of our elders with students from the Durban University of Technology and eta College fuels our desire to further promote intergenerational bonding in our endeavours. With the collective efforts of our operational staff, partner service providers and donors, we were able to exceed expectations for the day and provide an unforgettable experience.
“Thank you to Allmed Nursing Services, Feedem Group, Avbob, Ashraful Aid, RSA Market Agents, Saayman Danks Electroplating, Medis Medical Software, P&A Fabricators, Ashleigh J, Cars on Ridge, DJ Alan Chetty, DJ Anid, Pitbull Prints, Bidvest and Curries Fountain Sports Development Centre for providing support and sponsoring items toward this successful event,” said Kistensamy.
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