On Saturday, April 22, 2017, the Center on Aging and Community Living (CACL) hosted their 5th Annual Age of Champions event. This free community event promoted healthy living and celebrated longevity among older adults. Taking place at the UNH Field House, the event brought together community members, UNH faculty and students, and a variety of stakeholders dedicated to optimizing the experience of older adulthood and empowering older adults to remain engaged, active, and healthy.
Attendees came away from the event with an abundance of resources and practical applications for maintaining a lifestyle focused on health and wellness. These activities were showcased by both UNH student manned department booths, and local community agency booths, which provided health information such as falls prevention, accessibility resources, adaptive equipment, and healthy eating. There were also demonstrations and the ability to actively participate in Tai Chi, Pickleball, and Laughter Therapy.
The opening ceremony included keynote speaker, Stan Davis, a musician and storyteller who entertains and inspires his listeners with songs and guitar playing. His songs tell stories of survival, aging, love, and life. Following the keynote, three community members, Jim and Carly Hellen, Jack and June Liberman, and Jack Sherburne received the “UNH Age of Champions Wildcat Inspirational Award” as exemplary individuals who lead a healthy, active lifestyle, through their dedication to their community or their holistic approach to life. As a special tribute, the event was dedicated to Jacalin Wilder, whose exuberance and enthusiasm for life was the true genesis of this event. Her life was characterized by engaged abundance filled with meaning and joy, and her memory will live on as we each age with passion, grace, dignity, and a healthy dose of fun.
“CACL’s mission is to bring together various stakeholders interested in creating systems change that promotes and enhances the well-being and quality of life for older adults, says Allison Wilder, associate professor and CACL Faculty Fellow. “Helping citizens to “live well” across the lifespan, requires tactics that are multi-faceted and holistic in nature. We are thrilled to bring this mission to life through this event. Our goal was to ensure that participants walk away with new knowledge and helpful options to help them gain, or maintain, their ability to be healthy and active.”
This year's gold event sponsor was Cigna, a global health service company dedicated to helping people improve their health, well-being, and sense of security. Silver sponsors included the NH Alzheimer’s Association and NH AARP.
