Published: September 14, 2008 12:21 pm      

Seniors to gather for fun, fitness

Registration now open for annual games day

DUNCAN — The Southwest OK Senior Games is getting older, but you’d never know it by watching the lively seniors who participate each year.

This year’s games — the 14th annual session — will be from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 25, and are designed to provide fun and camaraderie for adults 50 years of age and older. Monday is the deadline to register for the games in order to ensure receiving a T-shirt of the proper size, said Pat Bowles, senior adult coordinator at the Simmons Center, where the fun takes place each year.

Events and activities include darts, horseshoes, shuffleboard, disc golf, basketball throw, croquet, pingpong, stationary bike, walk/jog track, line dancing, chair aerobics, land and water aerobics, rolling pin toss and a football throw.

“Actually, the games are very social,” Bowles said. “They’re non-competitive and lots of fun, no matter what a person’s physical level. They’re designed to show that people can exercise by participating in all kinds of physical activities, not just hard exercises. And, they have more fun at it.”

Around 90 to 100 people attend each year from all over the Duncan and Stephens County area and as far away as Norman, Ada, Cyril, Purcell, Lawton, Altus and Wichita Falls, Texas.

Duncan Regional Hospital will provide free blood pressure and blood glucose testing to ensure participants are healthy enough to join in their choice of activities.

Bottled water will be provided by Urgent Med/Family Med, and Moore Massage Therapy will give free massages.

The fee includes a light breakfast, games and use of the center’s facilities, lunch, door prizes, game day T-shirt and a souvenir. There will also be surprise entertainment, Bowles said.

“And the whole thing works each year because of the Simmons Center workers who volunteer to help for the day. They’re wonderful. They direct traffic, man the games and do whatever is needed to make the day a success,” she said.

This year’s sponsors include DRH, R&S Healthmart Pharmacies, Country Club Care, IBC Bank, Humana Insurance, Don Grantham Funeral Home, Advanced Medical Supply, Farmers Insurance Group-Billie Price, Personal Best-Fitness Training Studio & 24-Hour Gym, and Urgent Med/Family Med.

Registration may be made at the front desk in the center’s recreation area. For information, call Bowles at 580-252-2900, Ext. 232 or 222.