Bophelong celebrates 5 years of fitness

By Samkelo Sibiya

Bophelong Fitness Club (BFC) celebrated five years of existence in style on Saturday, November 13 at Hospital View, Thembisa. Over the years, the club has grown from strength to strength and has shown improvements every year. The numbers have been increasing dramatically, with more young and older people joining.

The club focuses on keeping senior citizens with various health conditions healthy.  Most of them have one or two positive stories to tell since joining the club.  On Saturday, the club celebrated its fifth birthday, and the atmosphere was different. Entertainment, food, and life-changing experiences were all shared on and off the stage.

Lina Ramoroka said When you get to a certain age, you have to take extra care of yourself and exercise. ” I am living proof that exercise does help. I used to trouble my grandchildren every time, there are certain things that I wouldn’t do, and I can walk, dance, and come to Bophelong and exercise with the ladies,” said Ramoroka.
“One time on my regular checkups, I was asked by the nurse if I do exercise or not; I replied to the nurse and said I walk, and she said walking is not exercise,” said Mercy Gutuxa, BFC member.
“Then the nurse referred me to Bophelong; funny enough, it took me a month to decide to get here, but I finally came, and I was welcomed with warm hands, and I was shown so much love. Today I have lost 8 kg,” Gutuxa said.

Amongst the speakers who shared their stories was Hluphi Sithole, who said she had a leg problem and went to different consultations, but there was no solution.“At the hospital, they discovered that I had arthritis in the spinal cord. My leg was always painful day and night. My friend invited me to Bophelong; since I got here, I am now able to dance and jump around; my family used to visit me at home now I am the one who visits them, and they get surprised, I share with them that exercising helped m,” she said.

She also encouraged people to use small spaces to exercise because it is crucial for everyone to take exercising seriously for all health reasons. Cathrine Mathebe, a founder of Bophelong, said the event was very successful as everything went according to plan.
“I am 66 this year, but people always complete me to be being younger, my life was saved by exercises. The ladies who come here every day their lives change because of exercises.
“I would like to thank everyone who honoured the invite as we went big this year and celebrated our birthday in style,” Just Running Athletics Club donated pre-loved running shoes to Bophelong Fitness Club.