CLEVELAND, Ohio—Phil Murawa fell in love with fitness at a young age and now, even at 90 years old, he doesn’t ever miss a beat—or an opportunity to exercise. 

  • The city of Cleveland hosted their 15th Annual Senior Walk
  • The walk promotes health and wellness among older adults
  •  Cleveland’s director of aging says events like this will continue because the city’s senior population is growing

“Besides working out at the Y, and I work there 6 days a week, I walk regularly, I live downtown, and people say, did you take the bus? Did you get a ride? No, I walk,” said Murawa. 

Each year, Murawa participates in the Cleveland Senior Walk, an annual event that promotes health and wellness. This marks his 15th year as a participant.

“I actually met Phil here at the Senior Walk, because he has not missed one, he’s been to every one,” said Mary McNamara, director of aging, city of Cleveland.

The city of Cleveland’s Director of Aging Mary McNamara says events that keep the city's older adults active are important, and there will be many more of them to come, because Cleveland’s senior population is growing. 

“For the first time in our history, by 2030 there’s going to be more people over the age of 60 than under the age of 20… that’s never happened before,” said McNamara. “We know people who are 80, 90… one of the fastest growing age groups, are people that are over the age of 100.”

Like anyone else…Murawa says there are some days where he doesn’t feel like exercising.

“There are days that I feel it would be nice to lay here and sleep a little longer, but you need to sort of push yourself up and get going,” said Murawa. 

And he says thinking of Senior Walk participants who are even older than he is, helps keep him motivated.

“The older people who are walking with walkers or canes, I’m lucky that I can still use my two legs," said Murawa.

To better prepare for their changing age demographics, Cleveland recently embarked on becoming an age friendly city, which is an international movement through the World Health Organization, and national movement through AARP.