More Than 1,000 Senior Citizens Take Part in Fitness, Health Fair

More than 1,000 people jumped, danced, performed tai chi, ran and walked through Griffith Park on Thursday morning as the Los Angeles Federation of Senior Citizen Clubs hosted the 50+ Fitness Jamboree Expo.

“This is a great day of fun and exercise in our city’s most beautiful park for our city’s most beautiful people who are more than 50 years young,” said Mayor Richard Riordan.

“This year’s senior fitness, health and vitality expo offers something for everyone.”

In addition to aerobics, pep talks and health screenings, there were timed 5K and 1K walks that were led by runner Valerie Brisco-Hooks, who won three gold medals in the 1984 Olympics. The oldest walker, 96-year-old Fred Hawkins, won the over-90 race.

The idea for the event was born four years ago when a group of supervisors from the Los Angeles City Department of Recreation and Parks sought to come up with new activities for senior citizens.

“We wanted to do something different, something physical rather than cultural,” said supervisor Vicki Israel. “So we came up with a walk in the park and the idea just grew and grew. The walkers just love it.”