- When Emily Adams visited her grandpa, Graham Gill, for his 80th birthday, she learned just how much pain her grandpa experiences in his body each day.
- Wanting to help him feel more comfortable, she designed a full-body strength program to help build his strength to alleviate the pain.
- Since they live far apart, Adams and Gill have been doing their training sessions over FaceTime.
Emily Adams has always encouraged her grandpa, Graham Gill, to stay active. Recently, when the 25-year-old clinical exercise physiologist from Brisbane, Australia, visited her grandpa for his 80th birthday, they were chatting when Adams learned just how much pain her grandpa experiences in his body each day.
Wanting to help him feel more comfortable, she suggested strength training to support his muscles and ease the strain on his joints. Gill, who lives in Newcastle, Australia, was immediately on board and even wanted to start right away. Adams designed a full-body strength program to build his overall strength while considering the high volume of walking he already does.
Since the pair live far apart, before Adams left for Brisbane, she taught her grandpa how to use FaceTime so they could continue their training sessions once she returned home.
Emily Adams
“We train twice a week via FaceTime,” Adams tells PEOPLE exclusively. “Since Pa lives 10 hours away, this was the best option. Technology has been a bit of a learning curve for him, but he’s getting more comfortable with each session, and I find it so sweet to watch.”
“Pa is loving his sessions!” she adds. “He says he’s finding it easier to get off the floor, feeling less knee pain when walking, and experiencing less overall tightness. We haven’t been at it for long yet, but he’s already noticing the difference, and that’s what matters most. I can’t wait to see where we are in a few months!”
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Not long after starting her grandpa’s fitness journey, Adams made a video about it on TikTok. She knew the world needed to see his beautiful soul and wanted to share something that made her feel so whole.
Then, she noticed the video starting to gain traction, eventually amassing over 668,000 views.
“There was nothing like it,” Adams says. “I read every single comment and picked my favorite ones to share with Pa. He couldn’t believe that so many people were watching it. Some comments really stuck with me — people saying they’d do anything to have this kind of moment with their grandparents or that their loved ones were no longer around. It made me feel so incredibly grateful and lucky.”
“For someone who claims he doesn’t like attention, he absolutely soaked it up,” Adams adds. “He thought it was the coolest thing ever. He even asked me for text updates when we hit new milestones and started referring to me as his ‘social media manager.’ He required that I call my mum (his daughter) immediately to let her know that ‘her dad is a celebrity and if people noticed him on his morning walk, this is why.’ HAHA.”
Since kickstarting her grandpa’s fitness journey, Adams says the biggest challenge has been the technology side of things. FaceTime is new to him, so he frequently accidentally mutes himself or turns the camera off.
But despite the frequent technology issues, Adams says she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“No matter how busy my week gets, I know I have two solid hours dedicated to helping Pa move and feel better,” she says. “His attitude is so uplifting, and I spend the rest of the day smiling. It’s such a privilege to be able to support him in this way.”
“We’re always close, but I guess we are getting closer,” Gill adds. “I like that we get to talk twice a week. That’s my favorite bit.”
“I feel I am getting a little bit more flexible and less stiff,” he says of his progress.
Emily Adams
As Adams continues to share these videos, she hopes to inspire people to move, no matter their age, and to cherish time with their loved ones, as moments like these are priceless.
“I want to show people that health isn’t about age; it’s about how you live,” Adams says. “There’s a huge difference between lifespan and healthspan, and movement is the key to a long, fulfilling life. I truly believe my Pa’s cognition and overall health are a direct result of his active lifestyle. It’s added so many years to his life, and I’m so grateful for that.”
“Just commit yourself to doing it. Just commit yourself to some sort of exercise as it’s good for your health, your mind… It’s good for everything,” Gill continues. “It’s better than sitting home and counting your money.”
