WELLINGTON COUNTY – VON is celebrating the 30th anniversary of its SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) exercise and falls prevention program on Oct. 17.
“We want to keep people out of the hospital, we want to keep them up and able and as active as they can be to live an independent life,” said VON SMART coordinator Kelly Gee.
The VON SMART fitness program is free for community members 55 years and older, or any adult living with a disability who wants to improve their strength, balance and mobility through exercise.
“I enjoy doing the exercises,” said VON exercise leader volunteer David Dougherty.
“They help me out and get me out of the Lazy-Boy chair and I love the people I’m doing it for.”
The program began in 1994 in London, Middlesex and Elgin. It now runs classes in over 700 locations across Ontario and Nova Scotia, serving more than 10,000 seniors.
The program was designed to prevent or minimize falls and fall-related injuries by strengthening the bones and muscles of an individual.
“Falls are the biggest risk factor for persons over the age of 65,” said Gee.
“Falls are the number one injury-related cause of death for seniors.”
The program services all of Wellington County and Guelph and offers virtual and in-person group classes as well as one-on-one classes for those who face more mobility challenges.
To commemorate its 30th year of classes, the program will be hosting exercise classes across every region, both virtually and in person.
All locations will be participating in the same class at the same time to the same music.
Gee says she wants to set a world record for largest exercise class.
“I did reach out to Guinness, but my application was denied,” Gee said with a laugh.
“So we are just going to create a record … maybe next year they will recognize ‘wow that was really huge and impactful’ and maybe Guinness will recognize it.”
Gee says despite the rejection of the application, she is hopeful that in the coming years the program will hold the world record for largest exercise class.
She plans to submit a new application next year.
The class will begin at 10:30am Oct. 17, and participants can attend in person or via Zoom.
For more information on in-person locations or to access the Zoom link, visit vonsmartexercise.com.
