Sebastian's story

On 21st June I am running the Midnight Sun Marathon in Norway.

I will be raising money for a wonderful charity, Open Age, who work with over 4000 adults aged 50+ Their vision is a world in which we can all age well, and live healthier & happier lives for longer.

The charity resonated with me because I recently had the opportunity to reconnect with my Great Aunt Erna while I was living in Canada. Erna (aged 84) was a widow and lived alone in a retirement village 2 hours east of Vancouver, and had little contact with others due to mobility issues and fear of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. Despite her physical health, her mind was sharp as a pin and I enjoyed spending time with her learning about her life. She moved from East Germany as a girl, travelled the world and eventually married and settled in British Columbia.

Our time together taught me that the pandemic, as well as other social and economic factors have made many older people feel isolated and disconnected.

This is why the work Open Age does is so vital. They work with older people to create chances for them to get together, find work, learn new skills and develop new interests. They help people stay healthy in both mind and body and keep living life to the full. They run a broad range of activities together with their members, across health, leisure, well-being, education and employment and engage with people from the age of 50 to 105!

My Great Aunt Erna died in 2023 and I am running this marathon in her memory.

Any donations would be greatly appreciated 😊!