It’s amazing what you can do at 50!

Fifty participants aged up to 90 years old will tow a 13 tonne truck through Murray Street Mall in Perth today.

Kicking off at 10.30am outside Carillion City arcade, the event marks the start of a month long Give 50 campaign, to raise funds for Western Australia’s not for profit aged and community care provider, Amana Living’s, latest enrichment project, iPad Connect.

The iPad Connect project involves providing Amana Living clients and residents with the technology and training to use iPad apps, games, audio visuals, communications and connectivity.

During a trial project for iPad Connect, Amana Living staff observed agitated residents and clients becoming noticeably calmer, and some who are normally difficult to reach becoming unexpectedly alert.

Throughout June, Amana Living and news talk radio, 6PR, will appeal to the Perth community to give 50 cents to help raise $50,000 for the exciting new project.

Donation boxes will be placed in Caffissimo cafés throughout Perth metro, so patrons can drop in the change from a cup of coffee – and help older people get reconnected.

To draw attention to the cause, Amana Living has invited 50 older people aged up to 90 years – almost all of them residents at Amana Living residential care centres or retirement villages – to pull a 13 tonne truck, with a message on the side: It’s amazing what 50 can do!

“Older people need so much more than physical care – they need to stay connected with the world and people around them,” Ray Glickman, Amana Living chief executive (pictured), said.

“Amana Living places an emphasis on enriching the lives of our residents and clients, so that they can remain as healthy and active as possible, physically and mentally.

“Initial results from our trial were very encouraging, and we now see great value in expanding this initiative into a wider program with more comprehensive measurements in place to gauge success,” he said.

The number of older people who can benefit from iPad Connect will depend on the funds raised to purchase iPads, accessories and apps, and to reward the student interns.

iPad Connect is the latest instalment of Amana Living’s Enrichment Program which helps older people to enjoy the second half of life by staying as active as possible in body, mind and spirit.

For photos of the 50 participants towing the 13 tonne truck, head over to the DPS News Facebook page on Monday.