Age is just a number - ask Roger

At 80, Roger is tackling the Surrey Three Peaks - and he wants you to join him.

Challenge events aren't just for the young. This September, one of our Surrey Three Peaks participants is proving exactly that.

At 80, Roger is taking on the Surrey Three Peaks Challenge on 5th September as part of our Age Better TOGETHER in Surrey campaign, and he's doing it to make a point as much as to raise funds. "Without some regular exercise we all deteriorate too quickly, and many people slow down when it becomes uncomfortable or inconvenient," he told us. "Becoming unfit is self-perpetuating, and I hope to show others that simple regular exercise can make a significant difference to one's wellbeing."

He's not wrong. Evidence shows that maintaining strength and mobility really is a case of use-it-or-lose-it. Staying active throughout life helps protect against age-related conditions such as osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, and dementia, while also improving mental wellbeing.1

For Roger, though, the benefits go well beyond fitness. "I benefit by seeing our deep and green countryside from an alternative perspective. I chat with interesting people (and their dogs) that I meet briefly on the way. I learn about the history of our land - wondering at the life and skills of those who built stone walls in our remote woods. I see wildlife as the sun rises silently over the horizon."

Staying active, staying connected to nature, and staying connected with your community - the benefits reach further than the physical. Something as simple as a walk can enhance your life, immediately and for years to come.

Roger is fundraising for Age UK Surrey to help support work that reaches older people right across the county - from Check in and Chat calls and weekly fitness classes to Men in Sheds groups, planning-for-your-future talks, and specialist dementia support. Every pound raised stays in Surrey, and every pound helps us keep showing up for the people who rely on us.

Support Roger's fundraiser HERE

Without you, Age UK Surrey won't exist. With you, we can keep growing our services and help everyone in Surrey age better, together.