LIMPOPO – “Keeping yourselves active is the best medicine for the illnesses that affect you.”
These were the words of Makhado Mayor, Dorcus Mboyi, during a healthy lifestyle event held at Rabali Stadium last Monday.
The event saw elderly participants engaging in soccer, a fun walk, and aerobics, all aimed at promoting fitness and health awareness.
Mboyi emphasised that the primary goal of the event was to keep the elderly fit and educate them about the importance of maintaining good health.
She praised the participants for their dedication to staying active and highlighted their role as positive examples for the younger generation.
“You are not only wasting time by walking,” she said. “You are keeping your bodies healthy, and you must remember that a healthy body has a healthy mind. These elders in their golden years are shunning the stigma that goes with old age. Let’s do away with the idea that elders are supposed to sit at home, doing nothing until sunset.”
She encouraged the elderly to continue their efforts in staying healthy through regular exercise and maintaining active lifestyles.
“By maintaining an active lifestyle, you are a very good example to your children and grandchildren,” she remarked. “They will hopefully follow in your footsteps. At this age, you must focus on positive things, rather than worry about things that you cannot change. Although these elderly people are of advanced age, what they are doing shows that they are still young in spirit.”
Mboyi also noted the health benefits of staying active, especially in reducing the risk of diseases such as diabetes, cancer, strokes and heart disease.
She commended the elderly women participating in the event, recognising them as true examples of female empowerment for breaking down gender barriers in sport.
“There is no longer a sporting code for a certain gender,” she said, urging them to continue their active pursuits.
One of the participants, Mavis Muravha, shared her secret to staying healthy: training twice a day and playing soccer. She believes that staying fit not only helps her maintain her health but also serves as a great way to relieve stress.
