100-Year-Old Woman Still an Active Volunteer

100-year-old Betty Lowe spends her days shifting between volunteering at a charity WRS shop at a hospital in her native Salford, England, and helping out with Britain's version of the Girl Scouts, the Girl Guides - a group she's been a member of for 89 years.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on August 25 2008

People have all sorts of excuses for not volunteering their time to charities. “I’m too busy.” “Gas is too expensive to drive anywhere I don’t need to go.” “I’ll just send some money instead.”

You won’t hear any such thing from Betty Lowe. As Great Britain’s oldest active volunteer, 100-year-old Lowe spends her days shifting between volunteering at a charity WRS shop at a hospital in her native Salford, England, and helping out with Britain’s version of the Girl Scouts, the Girl Guides - a group she’s been a member of for 89 years.

“I’ve been in the guides since I was 11. I was very interested in it and I used to go camping and walking. I was a bit of an outdoor girl when I was younger,” Lowe told the Telegraph.<

Lowe isn’t quite in shape for camping these days, but she still keeps busy with her volunteer activities. When she’s not volunteering with one of her favorite groups, she’s helping out friends and family, and is known as a supreme birthday cake chef.

Lowe just turned 100 on Monday, and more than 100 friends and family members showed up at her birthday party to wish her well. It sounds like this charitable centarian was happy to blow out the candles with a smile: “I think it’s very good to be 100,” she said. “I’ve enjoyed all my life.”

Filed under: Health and Wellbeing, Heroes,

Liked this? You'll love these, too:

Lobsterman Jim Henry Learns to Read at 91, Writes Book at 98

Jim Henry, an illiterate lobsterman, taught himself to read and write at age 91. Read More
Five Ways to Give without Spending a Dime

You'd like to give more to charity, but your meager income won't allow it. Fortunately, we've rounded up five great sites that let you contribute to charitable causes without spending a single dime. Read More
May Savidge: The Woman Who Moved Her House 100 Miles and Spent Her Life Rebuilding It

When city council told May Savidge that her home would be destroyed to make way for a new road, this determined woman decided to take the construction materials and rebuild her historic home—by hand—100 miles away. Read More
Thomas and Ann Rose Welcome 72nd Foster Child

An elderly couple from Allentown, Pennsylvania are preparing to welcome their 72nd foster child this year. Read More
WWII Vet Gilbert Herrick Marries for First Time, at 99

Gilbert Herrick, 99, just got married - for the very first time. Read More