Get active on Age UK's Gym Open Day 2012

Get active at your local gym for free on Age UK's Gym Open Day 2012 - Tuesday, 10 July 2012

It's time to kickstart your summer and take a step towards boosting your fitness with Age UK's Gym Open Day on Tuesday, 10 July 2012. On the day anyone over 55 will be able to try out local gym facilities for free at Bannatynes, David Lloyd Leisure Ltd, LA fitness and Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centres.

In the run up to the Olympics, the largest sporting event the country has seen in decades, Age UK's Gym Open Day will encourage people over 55 to join in the fitness fever. There will be opportunities to take part in exercise classes, take a dip in the pool, try out the treadmill or simply pick up some information guides packed with health and wellbeing advice.

Keeping up exercise throughout your life can positively influence your health, as being fit and healthy can lower the risk of getting serious conditions, such as strokes, heart disease and certain cancers. Not only does exercise add years onto our lives* but it can make you happy and helps maintain independence.

Steve Backley OBE, former Olympic medallist who exercises at David Lloyd Leisure, said: "I urge everyone to get involved in Age UK's Gym Open Day on 10 July if they can. As a former Olympic athlete I know how important it is to maintain your levels of fitness throughout your life and gyms provide a supportive environment for everyone to take part in exercise that suits them."

Emma Spragg, Head of Wellbeing Services at Age UK, said: "Exercise should play a part in our lives whatever our age and gyms have something to offer everyone. If you are over 55 then this is a great opportunity to pop along to your local branch of Bannatynes, David Lloyd Leisure Ltd, LA fitness or your Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centre on 10 July to rediscover how exercise can suit your lifestyle and find out just how rewarding keeping fit can be. So join in on this free day to try something new, meet some new people and above all begin to reap the benefits of feeling fit and healthy this summer."

Over 250 gyms across the country will be opening their doors for Age UK's Gym Open Day on 10 July. Fitness chains taking part include Bannatynes, David Lloyd Leisure Ltd, LA fitness and Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centres.

People who are unable come along on the day and want to find out more about the range health and wellbeing activities in their area should contact their local Age UK for more information. For contact details visit www.ageuk.org.uk/about-us/local-partners. To download Age UK's free Healthy Living guide and to find some helpful tips and exercise advice visit www.ageuk.org.uk.

To find out more about Age UK's Gym Open Day and which gyms you can visit in your local area on Tuesday, 10 July please visit www.ageuk.org.uk/gymopenday or call 0800 169 6565

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For any media enquiries or photography, please call Sarah Scott on 020 3033 1434 or email sarah.scott@ageuk.org.uk.

Notes to editors:

*Age UK's Improving Later Life book.

Age UK

For media enquiries relating to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland please contact the appropriate national office: Age Scotland on 0131 668 8055, Age Cymru on 029 2043 1562 and Age NI on 028 9024 5729.

Age UK is the new force combining Age Concern and Help the Aged, dedicated to improving later life.

We provide free information, advice and support to over six million people; commercial products and services to over one million customers; and research and campaign on the issues that matter to people in later life. Our work focuses on five key areas: money matters, health and well being, home and care, work and training and leisure and lifestyle. We work with our national partners, Age Scotland, Age Cymru and Age NI (together the Age UK Family), our local Age UK partners in England and local Age Concerns. We also work internationally for people in later life as a member of the DEC and with our sister charity Help Age International.

Age UK is a charitable company limited by guarantee and registered in England (registered charity number 1128267 and company number 6825798). Age Concern England and Help the Aged (both registered charities), and their trading and other associated companies merged on the 1st April 2009. Together they have formed the Age UK Group ("we").  Charitable services are offered through Age UK and commercial products are offered by the Charity's trading companies, which donate their net profits to Age UK (the Charity).