LIVERPOOL'S Active Age centre has saved lives. While many
people who use the Clubmoor venue say it has rescued them from
loneliness, for one it has an extra special meaning Ann Roberts was
taking part in a drama group production when she made a life-changing
discovery. The 64-year-old widow from Norris Green said: ``We did a
sketch for October's breast awareness week, about mammograms. I had
to show women how to examine themselves - and I found a lump. ``It was
cancer. I've had an operation and I'm starting chemo. But
I'm still coming here. It's keeping me going - it saved
me.'' The pounds 1m Lottery-aided Age Concern centre in
Townsend Lane was opened in 1999, and offers a host of activities from
IT to tai chi, salsa dancing, French classes, and stress management to
the over 50s. The majority of users are aged 60 to 75. People travel
from as far as Southport, Widnes and Wirral to take part, or just
socialise. Age Concern spokeswoman Liz Greenwood said older people were
involved in the planning. She said: ``The building was designed by old
people, for old people, down to the bricks and carpets. That's
important.'' Widower John Blackburne, 82,says he was left
staring at ``four walls and a TV'', until he got involved with
the creation of Active Age. Now he volunteers four times a week and
says: ``For a lot of people it has changed their lives.''
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