May Member of the Month - Helen Lloyd Jones

Posted 08 April 2009

Helen Lloyd Jones of Glasbury (four miles away from Hay on Wye) in Wales is more active at 60 than most 20-year-olds. She's the Chair of the Ramblers in Wales, was a chartered engineer, is very active for two charities - Ramblers and Families Need Fathers - and speaks about four languages while almost always having a pink day. Whew! We're impressed.

How did you find out about Fitbug?
Through the Ramblers, I’m the Chair of all the Ramblers groups and areas in Wales.

Tell us about the Ramblers*
It’s an organisation at the heart of walking. There are lots of areas and groups all over Britain. We organize all kinds of walk programs - short walks, longer walks - with a whole range of walks for every level. One of the big things we work on is ensuring the Rights of Way (Public footpaths) are kept open so people can walk quite safely.

We are also helping the government promote walking as the perfect way for people to take a recommended 30 minutes of exercise, five times a week to keep healthy. We’ve organised 30-minute walks annually around the 30th of May (30-05), the 'Get Walking Day,' check the Rambler’s website for more information.

What did you hope to accomplish with Fitbug?
I would love to lose a little bit of weight, wouldn't we all? The Bug’s been quite interesting because on days I’m home and I feel like I’ve done nothing, I still come in at 3 km. I usually average around 13,500 steps a day. I’ve been away to three conferences in three weekends and haven’t gained any weight!

Have you always been this active?
No, I started improving my fitness in my fifties. I used to teach, and one of my students was entered in the 800 metres on Sports Day. I went and jogged along to keep her going and she did, but at the end I sat down and thought 'My God I’m going to die!' It was a pretty good warning signal. I realised I had to get myself active again. Since then I’ve done things I’ve never thought possible, I certainly never thought I’d walk the Great Wall of China, or that I’d cycle in Vietnam and Cambodia!

How do you feel?
I feel good. What’s really nice is being in a situation where you’re not limited as you get older. At the moment I don’t have to think 'I can’t do this' and I’m not thinking I don’t want to go upstairs, because it's too much effort. So far thank God, all is well!

Why do you think the Bug works?
I am finding I do check and do a teeny more sometimes to get the numbers up; I don’t like to have a grey day, I feel like I’ve let myself and the Ramblers down.

Tell us about the the 'Get Walking Day' walking bus at the Hay Festival in Wales
The festival is on Saturday 23rd May. We’ll meet at 10am at the Tourist Information Centre in Hay and then walk to the Festival site, then at 11.30 meet at the Hay Festival Lay-by and we’ll walk into Hay. Then again at 4pm meet at the Tourist Information Centre in Hay and walk to the Festival site and finally at 5.30 pm from the Hay Festival Lay-by walk into Hay. We’re there to help people do a 30-minute walk. Most people won’t know this route. If people want to come with me; I’ll be there to guide them. It’s free, and they don’t need to be fit, as it’s at a relaxed pace.

What’s your advice to other Fitbug members?
Have fun!

*Fitbug is also very involved with the Ramblers, working together on initiatives around walking for health, physical activity in all three national geographies.

Click here for more information about Get Walking Day.

Helen on her cycling trip in February to Vietnam and Cambodia

As this month's star member Helen receives a gorgeous Molton Brown gift set. If you'd like to feature as our member of the month - or if you know someone that deserves to -

send us your story!