Campaign Ambassador - Anne Barker

Name: Anne Barker

Sports/Activities: Multisports

Locality: Welwyn and Hatfield

I am a fit, active older resident, now retired. I have spent most of my working life managing adult learning and training programmes. I am currently a champion for Live Longer Better and happy to be supporting the No Limits 2026 initiative. I have age-related hearing impairment, diagnosed with early onset in my 50s. Age-related hearing loss, is a gradual decline in hearing. Approx 30% of those over 65 and 50% of those aged over 75 will be affected. If not addressed, it can lead to social isolation, and cognitive decline. I am also a cancer patient, thankfully now in remission but exercise was instrumental in my recovery, both with regards to my physical health and in dealing with the resultant stress and anxiety.

In my younger days, I was a very keen footballer (Irish Gaelic and Soccer) and was awarded the George Best medal. I was also a county table tennis player and my desire to be active has remained with me throughout life. I have experienced some barriers participating in exercise activities because of my hearing loss and I no longer cycle because I struggle to hear cars, particularly those coming from behind. Exercise classes held in premises with poor acoustics and noisy environments causes reverberation of sound (not discernible with normal hearing) and this makes it difficult to hear the instructor. I also cannot hear high pitched sounds but like many with this condition, I have learned to lip read. So long as the instructor’s mouth is visible, this means that I can understand the instructions given but sometimes if they face away, I can struggle to keep up with other class members.

Nevertheless, I am now participating in lots of weekly exercise activities including cancer rehab classes, health walks, walking squash, line dancing and tai chi. I am also a keen hill walker. The top of a mountain is my happy place, rather than a beach! I took part in the Judo for Safer Falling programme at the University of Hertfordshire and last year, I was interviewed for the BBC TV’s Dr Xand’s Con or Cure series. My advice for anyone is that there is a form of exercise out there for you - we are not defined by our disability. You will be surprised about what you can achieve. It is not just about the fitness but also social interaction and general wellbeing. Above all, have fun.