The Diabetes Association, serving Southeastern Massachusetts, kicked off a month of activities on November 1, 2006, to increase awareness of the disease and to demonstrate ways of preventing or minimizing it. Every day at Noon, a group leaves the Association headquarters at Troy and Pleasant streets to get thirty minutes of healthy exercise by walking a one mile route through downtown Fall River. The group is open to anyone, with or without diabetes. To find out more about the walks and the many other events and services available through the Association, contact Prevention Program Director Bill Daponte at 508-672-5671.
 

(Top row, left) The Diabetes Association walking group models their new sweat shirts with the words "Want to Prevent Diabetes? Follow Me" emblazened on their backs. (Top row, center) Bill Daponte, Melissa Duclos, Joyce Cullen, Sharon Klinger and Liz Sullivan get ready to walk. (Top row, right) The group heads out from Diabetes Association headquarters at Troy and Pleasant Street. (Middle row) The group heads down Bedford Street and then south on Main Street to Spring Street where Officer Bruce Tavares helps them cross the street. (Bottom row, center and right) Diabetes Association Prevention Program Director Bill Daponte accompanies his mother and father, who accompanied him on the walk, back to the Association headquarters.