Jul 18, 2025

Not Out At 90

If you think you can, you can. 2024 was a year of challenges and change. For me, it was particularly hard as I lost my Nana, Brenda Heathcote. Four years ago, she suffered a stroke that left her speech and mobility impaired. Stubborn and resilient, she fought every step of the way, but her passing in April left a massive void—especially for my Grandad, Ken Heathcote, her husband of nearly 70 years. Their marriage wasn’t just a union; it was a partnership built on love, ambition, and an unwavering drive to build a better life for themselves and the people around them. Growing up on council estates in Bolton, they built a life defined by shared passions for work, sports, hobbies, and travel. Together, they founded Bolton Health Studio in the 1960s, the UK's first multi-purpose fitness club, changing the landscape of health culture. Behind the scenes, my Nana was the driving force, pushing for innovation and inspiring everyone around her. Her generosity and determination defined her. Whether it was remortgaging her home to support my dad’s first business or ensuring her kids had opportunities to see the world, she always strived for better—for her family and for others. Their relationship was a true partnership—supportive, loving, difficult at times like every other relationship, but unwavering. My Nana’s legacy of compassion and dedication lives on through my Grandad’s mission to make a difference in the lives of others. After she passed, my Grandad and I knew we wanted to honour her legacy. This year, we’re combining her spirit with two milestones for Grandad: his 90th birthday and 50 years of extreme sports. In true Ken Heathcote style, he’s celebrating by swimming 90 lengths of a pool, as well as 90 lengths in open water, to raise funds for three charities close to our families hearts; Stroke Awareness, Cancer Research and Alzheimer’s Research. And if you think that’s impressive at 90, wait until you hear his story…This isn’t his first rodeo. Born in Bolton, Ken’s dedication to fitness has been nothing short of remarkable. He's set out on a 50 year long mission to prove to the world that age is nothing but a number, and as he says 'If you think you can, you can'. He's pioneered this philosophy in everything that he's done and truly is an inspiration to myself and I hope to many others who have had the pleasure of meeting him over the years. Just to give you a little flavour of his 'commitment to the bit' and prove I'm not just Captain Tomming my Grandad out... On his 40th birthday, he marked the occasion by running 40 miles, lifting 40,000 lbs in 40 minutes, playing four squash matches, and completing 400 sit-ups—all in one day. And I know what you’re thinking; ‘Well, someone truly knows how to party!’, so naturally, he repeated the challenge on his 50th birthday, upping the stakes to 50 in each category. At 46, he achieved a marathon personal best of 2 hours and 31 minutes. In his 50s, he earned medals in World Masters Championships, excelling in marathons and 25k runs. At 74, he turned to mountaineering, scaling peaks in the Lake District and Switzerland. By 82, he swam the length of Lake Windermere, adding it to a list of swims that included Coniston Water and Blackpool’s Pier-to-Pier. Even after open-heart surgery, Ken continues to defy expectations. This year, he’s diving into his 90th birthday with the same energy and determination that has defined his life. Mental? Yes. Inspiring. F*ck yes! My Challenge: Honouring Nana, Keeping Up with Grandad Inspired by my Grandad’s drive, and my Nana’s ethos of striving for a better, healthier and more fulfilled life, I’ve decided to join him in his challenge. On July 18th, I’ll attempt to swim 90 lengths, lift 90,000 lbs, and play 9 consecutive sets of tennis —all in one day. I should mention that, for those of you who don’t know me, I’m probably not in the best shape of my life (that’s the understatement of the century) so this is going to be a massive test of my psychical and mental strength with plenty of training going on in the background so I don't get shown up by my Grandad...which is probably the case already. Am I biting off more than I can chew? Probably. But if my 90-year-old Grandad can do it, I should have no excuses. I implore you to watch the Ted Talk my Grandad gave at Bolton University back in 2019, as well as the short documentary Northern Visuals produced for his open water swims he completed in his 80s. I’ll leave links below. I do hope that it inspires you, like he has me. If you think you can, you can. WATCH: Aspire to Inspire: Changing the Perception of Age | Ken Heathcote https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGV24_5N2xQ WATCH: Age is Manageable https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujP0VRIoYKk This challenge isn’t just about us—it’s about creating something bigger. That’s why we’re turning this into a community event: Not Out at 90. We’d love for you to join us, take on your own challenge, and help raise funds for these vital causes, or even ones of your own close to your heart. We’re in the process of setting up all the bits and pieces and pulling together everything to make this an actual event, working with local communities and businesses in Bolton and the North, starting social media pages etc. to make this a reality, so bear with us on that; but this is how you can get involved in the meantime. The Not Out at 90 Challenge This challenge isn’t just about celebrating my Grandad's milestone, or my Nana's life—it’s an opportunity for everyone to join in and show the world that fitness is for everyone, no matter your age or ability. Here’s how you can get involved: • Take on a 90-inspired challenge: Walk for 90 minutes, run 9 kilometres, do 90 push-ups, a 90 minute football match, or even take 90 minutes of chess —every effort counts. • Participate virtually: Can’t be there in person? Join from anywhere by completing your own challenge and sharing it online to inspire others with the #NotOutat90 • Create your own challenge: It’s not about the number; it’s about supporting the cause. Whether it’s a bike ride, yoga session, or something else, we ask you to make the challenge your own and add your personal spin - every effort makes a difference and we want you to enjoy the challenge in your own unique way. Post, share, chat and spread the message - it will do a world of good! Why This Matters? Ken and Brenda believed in the transformative power of fitness. Through "Not Out at 90," we’re raising vital funds for three incredible charities. Every penny raised will provide resources for people striving to improve people’s health, and showing the world how fitness and an active lifestyle can change people’s lives; something my Grandad and Nana have dedicated their lives too. By honouring Brenda’s legacy of compassion and support, we’re continuing her mission to uplift communities through fitness and well-being. How You Can Help • Join our team: If you'd like to raise money for the Not Out at 90 Challenge for your own cause, we'd love to help and join forces. Please send an email to info.notoutat90@gmail.com and lets make a difference. • Donate: Every pound makes a difference. Help us hit our £90,000 goal and support these vital causes. • Join the Event: Whether in person or virtually, your participation will spread the message that fitness is for everyone. • Spread the Word: Share this event with friends, family, and colleagues. The more people who join, the bigger the impact we can make. #NotOutat90

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