Championing Healthy Ageing: Live Longer Better Champions Get Together

On Thursday 30th January 2025, Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership hosted a special Live Longer Better Champions’ Get Together Lunch at the Hertfordshire Sports Village in Hatfield. The event brought together Champions of the Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire network; a group of dedicated individuals committed to promoting healthy ageing, challenging ageism and creating a culture of enablement through physical activity.  

Funded by Hertfordshire County Council’s Winter Social Celebration Grant, the gathering served as both a celebration of the Champions’ impactful work and a platform for exchanging ideas to further advance positive health and wellbeing across the county. With 33 Champions registered for the day, the event provided a valuable opportunity for networking, learning, and reinforcing the Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire movement’s mission.  

A highlight of the day was the Champions’ enthusiastic participation in Herts Sport and Physical Activity Partnership’s annual Rowathon. Many attendees took to the rowing machines (some for the first time) contributing to an impressive collective total of 126km in support of the Hearts for Herts Charity who provide lifesaving solar-powered defibrillators across Hertfordshire. The initiative demonstrated not only the Champions’ dedication to physical activity but also their willingness to embrace new challenges in the pursuit of better health. 

In addition to the Rowathon, attendees had the opportunity to undergo a free falls prevention screening conducted by AJ Physio’s expert team, Adam Stanley and Jordan Harris. Using advanced ForceDecks technology, the screening provided a detailed movement assessment, offering individuals personalised reports and treatment recommendations tailored to their needs. This element of the event further emphasised some practical solutions to improve mobility and prevent falls. 

Tania Woods, Project Assistant for Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire, reflected on the success of the event: 

“It was fantastic to bring so many passionate Champions together, giving them a platform to share their perspectives on what Live Longer Better means to them. We explored ways to drive the movement forward in 2025 and encouraged Champions to support each other. They left with useful resources to enhance their own wellbeing and inspire others to do the same.”  

Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive: 

"A big thank you for organising the event and providing all the information. I really enjoyed meeting other Champions. I’m learning all the time!” 

“Many congratulations on yesterday’s successful day. It created a lot of useful cross-pollination of views.” 

“Thanks so much for putting on a great day. We enjoyed everything, from the quiz to lunch and the balance/Rowathon activities. It was great, thank you!” 

The event was a reminder of the dedication and enthusiasm of our Live Longer Better Champions, who continue to play a pivotal role in encouraging Hertfordshire residents to lead longer, healthier, happier, and more active lives. 

For more information about the Live Longer Better Champions initiative and how to get involved, visit www.livelongerbetterinherts.co.uk/champions/