AARP and the Bear Glasgow Y Team Up to Disrupt Aging

Hyacinth Lee, 81, crossed the finish line at the YMCA Pumpkin 5k walk in first place. “My faith in God has helped me push through bouts with breast and stomach cancer,” she said. Now in her eleventh year of membership at the Bear Glasgow YMCA, she enjoys daily classes in yoga, body combat, spinning, body sculpting and more.

Delawareans like Hyacinth are why AARP sponsored the Bear-Glasgow YMCA’s Family Health Festival and Pumpkin 5k race. Both organizations are changing the perception of what it means to get older. In fact, AARP’s #DisruptAging initiative aims to demonstrate that outdated beliefs about what getting older means can limit us as we move into our next chapter of life.

AARP’s Disrupt Aging initiative touts that no one’s possibilities should ever be limited by their age. Some of those persistent limitations live right inside of us. Hyacinth is living proof that we can all get past those internal barriers.

At the Bear Glasgow YMCA Family Health Festival, grandparents participated in the race alongside their kids and grandkids for health and also fun. The event provides an opportunity to spend time with other Delawareans who share the values of healthy living.

“It’s so motivating to see so many different generations at the YMCA getting fit and gaining valuable information about staying healthy throughout life,” said Lucretia Young, AARP Delaware State Director.
AARP State President George Meldrum, lead volunteer, gave the shotgun start for the 5k and said a few words to the crowd about AARP’s “Stop Rx Greed” campaign. The campaign aims to take on Big Pharma and lower drug prices.

As part of the partnership, the Bear Glasgow YMCA is offering “Over 50 Mondays.” Members of the community who are age 50 and over can try out the gym, pools, classes and more for free on Mondays through 2019. Just show your Driver’s License when you check in.



Moving forward, AARP will continue to Disrupt Aging and find ways to inspire Delawareans to find new solutions to successful living.