Meet the Champions
Learn firsthand from our Champions about what it means to them to be part of the Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire movement.
Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire simply wouldn’t be what it is without them, they truly advocate the importance of active ageing and embody that positive mindset about ageing.
Each champion brings their own unique set of skills and perspectives to our Hertfordshire mission and this video brings to life some of those stories.
Thank you to ALJ Productions for capturing and editing the content of this video.
Bob
After running a junior badminton club for more than 20 years, Bob saw Live Longer Better in Hertfordshire as an opportunity to use his experience with a completely different age group and joined as a champion in April 2024. As someone within the Live Longer Better age range himself, the Champion training really resonated with him.
Working with Hertfordshire Badminton and Herts Sports & Physical Activity Partnership, Bob helped establish new badminton groups across North Hertfordshire and Stevenage. Three groups created through the original project are still running independently today.
Building on that success, Bob has continued to create new opportunities, with a group in Whitwell already up and running and further groups planned for Hitchin and Letchworth.
For Bob, the most rewarding part is seeing people become more active while making new connections and having fun together – giving themselves every opportunity to live longer and better.
John
John became a Live Longer Better Champion to learn more about the simple things we can all do to stay active, healthy and independent as we age – and to share what he learned with others.
Since becoming a Champion, John has delivered a number of Live Longer Better talks across Hertfordshire, inspiring people to think about their own daily habits and the small changes they can make. He has been delighted to see attendees taking action following his talks and putting what they’ve learned into practice.
A local sports motivational speaker, YouTuber known as The Roxrunner, and a coach with 23 years’ experience, John draws on some extraordinary personal experiences to show that staying active can take many different forms.
His adventures have included competing in the Marathon des Sables across the Sahara Desert in temperatures reaching 54°C, taking on the Everest Marathon, running an Arctic Marathon across Greenland’s ice cap, and representing England in two sports after the age of 60.
John’s talks aren’t just about extreme challenges, though. He shares practical habits and techniques that can help people incorporate regular movement and activity into everyday life, overcome barriers to exercise and, ultimately, Live Longer Better.
Helen
Based in St Albans, Helen became a Live Longer Better Champion because of her passion for healthy ageing. Having taken part in regular exercise for many years, she has experienced first-hand the benefits of staying active, particularly as she has grown older.
As a Champion, Helen has supported Live Longer Better at a range of community events, including several OPALS sessions. She has also put her skills into action as a chair-based exercise instructor, following training funded through Live Longer Better.
Helen now leads short exercise activities at the end of OPALS sessions, and exercise classes, helping other locals experience the benefits of movement and showing how simple, accessible activity can support us to live longer and better.
Kelly
Dave
Becoming a Live Longer Better Champion felt like a natural progression for me. I’m the Hertfordshire Badminton Association Development Coordinator, a registered Hertfordshire Carer, and a member of Knebworth & Marymead Surgery’s Patient Participation Group, so supporting people to stay active, connected and involved in their communities is something I’m passionate about.
One of the highlights for me has been being involved in the county-wide Live Longer Better 50+ Badminton project during 2024–25. Working with Charlotte and the team, the project helped secure £10,000 of Sport England funding to establish 50+ badminton sessions across 9 of the 10 of Hertfordshire’s local authority areas.
It has been fantastic to see the impact. Several of the sessions have continued and become self-supporting, while some local authorities have recognised the benefits and provided funding for new sessions too. It’s a great example of what can happen when the right people and organisations work together to create opportunities for older adults to be active.
Alongside the badminton project, I’ve also really enjoyed representing Live Longer Better at events and volunteering on stalls such as Carers in Hertfordshire, Primary Care Network, and Communities1st events.
Being a Champion gives me another opportunity to share what’s available, encourage people to get involved and help more people across Hertfordshire live longer and better.
Wendy
Wendy first discovered Live Longer Better while simply looking for an exercise class in Hatfield. What she found was a whole network of opportunities to stay active, meet new people and get involved in her local community.
“I had no idea that there were so many good things going on in Hertfordshire! I immediately thought – this is something I’m going to get involved in.”
Wendy completed the online Live Longer Better Champions course and has since become a regular volunteer, supporting events and helping to spread the message about the benefits of moving more as we age.
For Wendy, being a Champion is about much more than physical activity. She is passionate about encouraging people to keep moving because of the difference it can make to both physical and mental wellbeing. You’ll often find her meeting people at events in Hatfield town centre, sharing information and encouraging others to discover what is available locally.
She certainly practises what she preaches, too! Wendy is part of the walking squash community at Hertfordshire Sports Village – despite never having played squash before – and also takes part in weekly warm-ups, gentle gym sessions, table tennis and local walks.
Alongside volunteering and keeping active, Wendy works from home for a book publisher. She takes inspiration from a 90-year-old friend who is currently writing her second book – a brilliant reminder of one of the messages at the heart of Live Longer Better
Liz
Liz became a Live Longer Better Champion to share her passion for yoga with older people and to help others discover its many benefits. Having come to yoga herself after the age of 50 following serious illnesses and injury, she experienced first-hand how it can support rehabilitation, improve strength, flexibility, and balance, and help reduce anxiety.
Since becoming a Champion, Liz has delivered yoga sessions at a wide range of community events, including health and wellbeing days, charity events, and local outreach activities. Through these sessions, she encourages people to experience how purposeful movement, conscious breathing, and mindful relaxation can support healthier and more active ageing.
For Liz, the greatest reward is seeing the enjoyment and positive impact reflected in the people who take part. She firmly believes it is never too late to start yoga, and is delighted that her oldest beginner yoga student (so far) is 103 years old. She loves helping people discover simple practices that can improve both physical and mental wellbeing, regardless of age, fitness level, or health condition.
A qualified yoga teacher and yoga therapist with a particular interest in supporting older adults, Liz is passionate about making yoga accessible to everyone. Alongside teaching her own classes and community sessions, she also trains other teachers in chair yoga and accessible yoga, helping to spread the benefits of yoga to even more people. She considers it a real privilege to share yoga with the community and support others to live longer and better.
For more information about becoming a Champion, please click here.