ADDISON — Louise Richards of Addison celebrated her 100th birthday lifting weights along with her friends from the “Bridport Defense League.” This group of folks from Bridport, Addison and Shoreham meet regularly to exercise using weights and gentle movement as well as to have community contact. Twenty-one women joined Louise in the workout and partook of the cake. 

BRIDPORT DEFENSE LEAGUE members join Louise Richards recently to celebrate her 100th birthday
Photo courtesy of Irene Zaccor

Added together, the ages of the 21 people exercising was 1,590 years. The fitness group started in 2007 as part of a Champlain Valley Agency on Aging program. CVAA, now known as Age Well, supported a young Americorp worker who used research from Tufts University on the best exercise program for older bones. The Americorp worker trained local leaders for the group. In Bridport, Lynne Boie volunteered and trained to run the group and 15 years later, she is still at it. 

The group meets twice a week on Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. in the Bridport Community Hall. During COVID times, they exercised at the Addison Volunteer Fire Department and outdoors on the Bridport Town Green while the weather permitted, although cold and damp is not what older bones prefer. This is one group of remarkable, resilient and strong people.

LOUISE RICHARDS OF Addison turned 100 this month and celebrated with her fellow members of the “Bridport Defense League,” a group of women in their later years who get together and exercise.
Photo courtesy of Irene Zaccor