From smoothie-biking and New Age Kurling to pilates and walking football, there is a vibrant mix of activities for people over 50 taking place during a Health Awareness Week in Lincoln.

From Monday 16th to Friday 20th March, Age UK Lincoln will be raising awareness of the types of activities on offer at its Park Street centre that enable older people to lead a full and active lifestyle.

One of the events during the week will challenge people to have a go on a smoothie bike to make a fruit smoothie with their pedal power. On the morning of Friday 20th March, there will be a free pilates class and an intergenerational Age UK Lincoln team will challenge pupils from Bishop King CE Primary School to a walking football challenge.

There will also be healthy eating advice sessions plus hearing and health checks for blood pressure, body mass index and weight, diabetes and cholesterol levels. The Alzheimer’s Society and Action for Blind People are also taking part in the week to give advice and support.

Helena Burt, Assistant Manager at Age UK Lincoln, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for older people in and around Lincoln to boost their physical, mental and social wellbeing.”

During the week, bone densitometry (DXA) staff from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will perform free bone health checks to identify people at risk of osteoporosis.

Caroline Johnson, National Osteoporosis Society Regional Development Manager for East Midlands, said: “We want everyone to think about their bone health and to understand that there are steps that we can all take to keep our bones stronger for longer by combining weight-bearing exercise with a balanced, calcium-rich diet and maintaining vitamin D levels through safe summer sunlight.

“Osteoporosis causes painful fractures but so many of these broken bones could be prevented if the condition were identified sooner.”

Age UK Lincoln welcomes almost 2,000 people aged over 50 to its Park Street activity centre every week for a range of activities from zumba and tai chi to silver surfer and language classes. The centre also offers free information and advice on issues such as finance, benefits, housing options and personal budgets.

For the full list of events taking place during Health Awareness Week at Age UK Lincoln’s Park Street centre, please go to www.ageuk.org.uk/lincoln/news–campaigns/health/

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Notes to editors

Age UK Lincoln:

• Age UK Lincoln operates as an independent, registered charity that relies heavily on corporate sponsorship and generous donations from the public. It is part of the national Age UK network, but does not receive any of the donations made to the national charity.
• Age UK Lincoln is based at 36 Park Street, Lincoln, LN1 1UQ and celebrated its 55th anniversary in June 2013.
• Age UK Lincoln’s Information and Advice Service responded to nearly 7,000 enquiries in 2014 and unlocked more than half a million pounds of unclaimed benefits for older people in and around Lincoln.
• In 2014, Age UK Lincoln’s befriending volunteers visited 2,000 lonely people over 281 days.
• For more information, please visit www.ageuklincoln.org.uk.

The National Osteoporosis Society:

• People unable to attend a bone health check at Age UK Lincoln’s Park Street centre are being encouraged to take the National Osteoporosis Society’s five-minute bone health quiz online at stopatone.nos.org.uk/online-check
• Osteoporosis is the fragile bone disease that causes painful, debilitating and sometimes fatal fractures, particularly of the wrist, hip and spine.
• Osteoporosis is very common. Almost three million people in the UK have the disease and there are roughly 300,000 fragility fractures a year. One in two women and one in five men over the age of 50 will break a bone, mainly because of poor bone health.
• The National Osteoporosis Society is the only UK-wide charity dedicated to improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and fragility fractures.
• To find out more about osteoporosis, please visit www.nos.org.uk or call the helpline on 0845 450 0230 / 01761 472721.

For media information please contact:
Jonny Hall
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
jonny@weareshootingstar.co.uk
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