A great grandmother who’s travelled to the corners of the earth has revealed how an innovative walking challenge has reinforced her sense of adventure – at 94-years of age.

Former social worker and lifelong traveller Lillis Oldham from Strathaven – who once ventured to Cambodia as part of the humanitarian effort following Pol Pot’s genocide – is a participant of Voluntary Action South Lanarkshire’s (VASLan) Strolling Steady initiative.

Strolling Steady has seen around 100 recruits across South Lanarkshire issued with free start up packs, including a pedometer, so they can clock up miles in and around their own homes.

“Life, for me, has always been about going out and grasping opportunities. When I heard about the Strolling Steady initiative I wanted to give it a go,” said Lillis.

The initiative was set up as part of the national Reshaping Care for Older People (RCOP) programme and consists of a participants wearing a pedometer to record their activity. A key goal of the RCOP partnership, which also includes NHS Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire Council and the independent sector, is to help growing numbers of people over 65 to continue to live full, positive and independent lives.

Participants of Strolling Steady are provided with a diary to mark progress and information on how they can be more active in their day-to-day lives. .

Lillis added: “I’ve no immediate plans to travel but you can often find the best adventures in life are on your doorstep. The Strolling Steady programme has been part of that.”

Find out more

• For more information on activities run by the voluntary sector in South Lanarkshire visit http://www.vaslan.org.uk/locator/ or contact 01698 300390
  A new Act requires health and social care to integrate their services. Partners, like the voluntary sector and unpaid carers, will continue to play a crucial role.
  For more information on integration visit http://bit.ly/1FqvUeI