6 Active Aging Week September 21-27, 2014
Meet the Wellness Institute’s
2014 Active Aging Ambassadors
On Active Aging Day Sept. 23, 2014
Errol Mondell Errol joined the Wellness Institute 14 years ago. This is where he met his very good friends, who encouraged him to take up running. Errol ran his first half marathon in 2003. In 2006, at the age of 60, he completed a full marathon. Now he enjoys using the elliptical, bike, weights and pool and you’ll often find him playing pickleball. Errol has been married for 45 years and enjoys quiet nights at home watching television and movies, and going out for breakfast with friends on Sundays. Errol’s Active Aging Advice: “Exercise makes you feel good. That’s the most motivating part about it.” Cheryl incorporates biking, resistance training, walking and the odd fitness class into her visits five days a week. She also volunteers for Seven Oaks General Hospital and, once a month, she also volunteers with her neighbour’s church making perogies. Cheryl’s Active Aging Advice: “Having a positive social network and striving to keep moving every day and that’s why I come to the Wellness Institute.” Cheryl Cole When Cheryl retired, she gave herself an option: Get a job or go to the gym. She chose the Wellness Institute and has enjoyed the friendly members and the healthy attitude for two years. “Everyone talks to each other. Shape, size and age do not matter.” George Koch 14 years ago, George joined Wellness Institute and he works out here seven days a week. “It motivates me and takes me back to when I was a teenager. This place is my second home and I have met some of my closest friends here.” George was a teacher for 30 years and retired four years ago. His passion is running and he has participated in a full marathon, a few half marathons and many 5K and 10K runs. He works as an educator at the Manitoba Lung Association and in his spare time, he gardens, referees minor tackle football, and goes for breakfast with friends. George’s Active Aging Advice: “Maintain a healthy level of activity, make healthy food choices, and enjoy all the happiness and joy that will bring.”
Judy Simcox Judy has been a member at the Wellness Institute for three years. She enjoys the classes, exercise equipment, meeting people and bringing her 86-year-old mother to the facility on guest day. After her heart attack, Judy participated in the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at the Wellness Institute. Today, she’s a fundamental part of the Get Better Together program and facilitates close to three programs a year. Judy does yoga, biking, walking, reading, knitting, and crocheting, all while being a caregiver for her mother. She spends summers at her trailer at a seasonal campground and enjoys visits to the beach, biking and walking with her close friends and her Shih Tzu poodle Abby. Judy’s Active Aging Advice: “Keeping active, eating right, positive interaction with others.” Murray Chimilar Murray became a member at the Wellness Institute in 1997 and he’s taught spinning classes at the institute since 2006. In 2000, Murray’s wife passed away, and for the first time in his life, he did not have the motivation to exercise. But after three weeks he returned, and he says, “it was the staff and my tremendous group of friends that helped and pushed me through it.” A leader and a motivator, Murray has been actively involved in starting a running program and many running and cycling events, often followed by a large potluck for members to share and celebrate their successes. Two years ago, Murray started the Wellness Institute’s Golf tournament to raise money to fight breast cancer. It was a huge success and this year’s event was even bigger and better. Murray’s Active Aging Advice: “It’s not about how you feel when you start, but how you feel when you finish.”
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