The Healthy City Fall River WALKS project held its fifth walk on May 11, 2007, originating at the Diabetes Association headquarters at the corner of Pleasant and Troy Street. Twenty-two walkers walked the course through downtown Fall River identified on the Healthy City web site by a task force on walking. “This walk is ideal for anyone working in downtown Fall River," stated Healthy City Coordinator David Weed. "We'd like to see more people taking a walk break during their work day," he added. The project is encouraging physicians and other medical providers to prescribe walking along with medications for high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other conditions that can be reduced or eliminated with regular exercise. Click here to see the kick-off walk at the Fall River YMCA on May 7th. Click here to see the second walk at the HealthFirst Family Care Center. Click here to see the third walk at Kennedy Park. And, click here to see the fourth walk through Maplewood Park. Click here to see the daily Diabetes Association walk that take place every day at noon.For more information about Fall River WALKS, contact Dr. Weed at 508-324-2411.
 

(Top row, left) Dr. Weed welcomes the group and talks about the importance of regular walking and other exercise in maintaining health. (Top row, center) Family & Youth Programs Director Bill Daponte leads the group from the Diabetes Association headquarters down Troy Street from 170 Pleasant Street. (Top row, right)  Administrative Assistant Melissa Duclos, Development Coordinator Amber Vlangas, Bill Daponte, Diabetes Advocate Virginia Senna-Davis, and Youth Program Assistant Liz Sullivan cross Main Street. (Middle row, left) Mary Lopes waves to her friend Irene Price, right, as they walk by the Aetna office building. (Middle row, right) Louise Michaud, Len Kaplan and Jude Quinlan stride down South Main Street. (Bottom row, left) Edna Soares and Peg Marchand pass by some of the cherry blossoms. (Bottom row, center) Dr. Weed, Irene Price, Pat Petty, Del Mello, Pauline Valliquette, Louise Michaud and Karla Simcock each participated in all five of the daily walks. (Bottom row, right) Barbara Nataly and Del Mello lead the group down Second Street past the Lizzie Borden house on their way back to the Diabetes Association on Pleasant Street. Sponsors of the walks included the Community Foundation of SE MA, Diabetes Association, the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness, HealthFirst Family Care Center, Pereira's Medical Uniform Depot, Southcoast Hospitals and St. Anne’s Hospital.