If you had asked them five years ago whether or not they could hike 70 kilometers and spend eight days in the wilderness, they would have thought you were crazy for even asking.
However, a few weeks ago, Salme Ala-Heikkilä and Reijo Ojanen, a couple in their mid-sixties, conquered what they once thought was impossible. Many years ago, Salme and Reijo hiked regularly, but health issues made it difficult to continue this hobby. Now, hiking is something they look forward to together.They left their hometown of Tampere, Finland and traveled 14 hours to Utsjoki where they found beautiful rivers and rolling hills close to the border of Norway. Close to this city is the Kaldoaivi Wilderness Area where Salme and Reijo started their journey.
Their backpacks were loaded and ready to go, Salme’s pack weighed 18 kg, which is almost one-third of her total weight. Reijo’s pack weighed 26 kg, and some of its contents were Synergy products.
“Leaving our products at home wasn’t a thought that ever crossed our minds,” Reijo said. “It wasn’t hard to take the extra weight because need them. They were worth carrying because they helped us through our adventure.”
The pair claims they have never been the athletic or very active type, especially in the last decade of their life as exercise has become more straining on their bodies. However, they love the outdoors and the chance to get away from people, electronics and the sounds of the city. They can rest their minds, listen to the birds and replenish the energy they were lacking in their daily lives.
“We enjoy taking in the nature, and it’s great to be able to have natural products in this setting that gave us the energy we needed to complete the 70 kilometers,” Salme said.
Thank to Synergy products, Salme and Reijo plan to make this 8-day hiking tour an annual tradition. Their fantastic health is what allows them to seize the days and moments in their lives, to live every day with energy and excitement. When they introduce Synergy to those they meet, one of the messages they share is that Synergy products can be the ticket to rekindling the passions and dreams you gave up years ago.
“We love being a part of Synergy,” Salme said, “and we love that we can be adventurous again. We want people to know there are products that can help them change their lives like we have changed ours.”
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