Blue Cross Blue Shield hosted a luncheon designed to increase awareness of the benefits of walking for employees at the Fall River Government Center on May 2, 2007. Organized by Joyce Berube from the Personnel Department, the program featured a discussion of how regular exercise could reduce the risk of developing a number of medical conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and even diabetes in some cases. The program was presented by Dr. David Weed, Coordinator of Healthy City Fall River, and Darin Vigilante, Customer Service Representative for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.  Heart-healthy sandwiches from Subway were provided through  Healthy City micro-grant awarded to the Employee Healthy Lifestyle Committee. "It was great to learn how walking could be built into anyone schedule" commented Claudia Mello of the auditor's office. Participants received free pedometers from Blue Cross that they could use to record their steps throughout the day. Click here to see a similar program on stress management. For more information about the program, contact Community Coordinator Maureen Estes at 508-324-2405. For photos of a Government Center employee walking program, click here.
 

(Top row, left) Fall River Government Center Personnel Office employee Joyce Berube welcomes Geri Machado and Liz Camara to the luncheon. (Top row, center) Dr. David Weed opens the program by describing some of the efforts to encourage walking that will take place throughout the city this summer. (Top row, right) Health and Human Services Director Michael Coughlin and Mary Jo Cordeiro help themselves to a heart-healthy lunch. (Middle row) Nadine Castor, Eugenia Rodrigues and Mary Jo Cordeiro look over the handouts. (Middle row, right, and bottom row, left and right) Mr. Vigilante of Blue Cross and Blue Shield explains some of the ways that walking can reduce medical costs. (Bottom row, center) Eugenia Rodrigues, Mary Jo Cordeiro, Michael Coughlin and Geri Machado share a lighter moment.