Club is Alive and Well, largely thanks to Liz

A LARNE community worker has stepped down as coordinator of the club she helped set up more than a decade ago.

For the past 13 years, Liz Ford has been actively involved in the popular Alive and Well Club, a cross-community initiative which aims to help older Larne residents by getting them out of their homes and engaged in various activities on a weekly basis.

But the 81-year-old has decided that the time is right to hand over the reigns and take a back seat. And to celebrate Liz’s commitment to Alive and Well over the years, members threw her a surprise retirement party at the Elim Church hall on Victoria Road.

Speaking to the Larne Times at the event, Liz said: “When this club was first set up we had just eight members, but it has gone from strength to strength and we now have about 30 members. Larne Community Care Centre and Elim Church have been very kind to us over the years by letting us use their premises.

“The club will now be left in the very capable hands of care centre manager, Lucinda McFall.”

Liz added that the club was now closed for the summer while it undergoes some changes.

“Depending on whether the club can secure funding, it is hoped that Alive and Well will become a lunching club when it reopens in September,” she added.

“If successful, the meals will be subsidised and members will not have to pay as much, perhaps 4 per month. The aim is to reach out to the wider community.”

Liz may be stepping down as club coordinator, but she fully intends to stay involved as a member.

“I will give it a miss for a few weeks to let everyone get settled, but I will certainly be back. It has been a real privilege to run this club for so many years and I want to thank everyone who has supported us over the years,” she said.

Pastor at the Elim Church, Gordon Graham, described Liz as “a true inspiration and someone who will be hard to replace”.

Related topics: