In Meru County, Kenya, 82-year-old Wanjiru Kamau runs five kilometers three times a week. She joined a local athletics group in 2017, and despite initial ridicule from neighbors, her health has improved: her blood pressure is now normal and muscle spasms have stopped.

Wanjiru is one of 80 members of the Meru chapter of Masters Athletics Kenya, a network for athletes aged 60 to 100. The group was founded in 2015 by Stephen Michubu Linguya, who saw his neighbors aging poorly due to sedentary lifestyles and sought out older adults who once loved running.

Members train three days a week, covering travel costs themselves without sponsorship. 73-year-old James Mworia won two silver medals at the 2019 African Masters Athletics competition in Tunisia. 52-year-old visually impaired Protasio Mutuma Lichoro trains with his son as a guide, solving a long-standing problem of finding assistance.

Meru County sports official Elias Murega highlights the group's role as a generational example. Wanjiru Kamau no longer cares about neighbors' laughter and encourages all older adults to exercise regularly: "Since I began exercising and drinking water, my blood pressure is now normal, and I no longer get muscle spasms."

Source: www.aljazeera.com