COVID-19 has Calgary seniors walking around province, across country but virtually

Residents had limitations on where they can get fresh air as well as a short stroll.

So a tiny team established out to do simply that, as well as they came up with an idea that got people talking, and walking.

And the Marda Loopers, about 43 of them, have in the last three weeks strolled 2,785,038 actions which amounts to concerning 1,740 kilometres.

“We were allowed to go around the building and that was pretty dog-gone boring. It was like gerbils in a cage, around and around,” she explained.

“A friend said, ‘We can do better.’”

So a small group set out to do just that, and they came up with an idea that got people talking, and walking.

“We measured our steps and then turned it into kilometres. We measured the loops around our building and bingo, we started this little walking group,” Rogers said.

And a naming contest for that walking group, drew 17 ideas.

They landed on “Marda Loopers” to honour both their community and the fact they were doing loops.

And the Marda Loopers, about 43 of them, have in the last three weeks walked 2,785,038 steps which equals about 1,740 kilometres.

They plot those kilometres on a map, and so far they have virtually travelled to the Alberta borders to the south, east and west. Now they are on their way to the Northwest Territories.

“We are now aiming for going across Canada. We have to start at one ocean. After we have finished with all four Alberta borders, we are going to go west to dip our toes in the Pacific Ocean,” she said.

“Then we will come back, hop over Alberta and then keep going east until we can dip our toes in the Atlantic Ocean.”

The club has bonded people in the facility and is paying off in many ways.

“It is nothing short of amazing how people have latched onto this. People who weren’t walking before are now walking. They have smiles on their faces. People are walking any time of the day and after dinner now that the days are longer,” Rogers said.

“You can talk to people. It is uplifting. It’s like magic what has happened here. It’s good for our emotional and physical and mental health.”

• Listen as Marion Rogers explains what a Calgary seniors walking group has planned, in the audio clip below.