The Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Boys & Girls Club, the Fall River YMCA and Healthy City Fall River held its first Fitness Challenge Weigh-in at the Veterans' Memorial at 72 Bank Street. Over 200 people arrived between 9:00 and Noon to sign-up and weigh-in for the four-month program designed to engage people who live or work in Fall River in a variety of fitness programs offered at low-cost. Other sign-ups are taking place for personnel at local fire and police stations, Durfee High School, Charlton Memorial Hospital, St. Anne's Hospital, the Family Service Association, the Corrigan Mental Health Center, Towne House, First Baptist Church, and Curves, in addition to the Diabetes Association and CD-REC.  Participants will be eligible to win some great prizes through drawings held throughout the Challenge.  Click here for photos of the press event announcing the Challenge. Click here for the Herald News article about the news conference. Contact Bill Daponte at 508-672-5671 or CD-REC Program Director Grace Gerling, 508-679-0922, for more information.

(Top row, left) Irene Hartnett signs up for the challenge and looks over the fitness options with the help of Diabetes Association Program Director Bill Daponte. (Top row, center) Melissa Comstock and her mother Pauline fill out the application form together. (Top row, right) Katie Sousa of Posé Dance Studio and Bill Daponte accept an application from Marilyn Tripp while Doug Rebello of the Chamber of Commerce signs-up in the background. (Middle row, left) Gary Howayeck weighs-in with Certified Personal Trainer Amy Jones of  Where Is The Work-Out. (Middle row, right) Patricia Guay, Paula Parissee and Mary Ann Costa fill out their form prior to weighing-in. (Bottom row, left) Ms. Senior Sweetheart contest president Lenny "Low Price" Kaplan and Southcoast Tribute editor Chuck Gregory try out the treadmills in the fitness center with Trainer Amy Jones' assistance. (Bottom row, center) Family Resource Center staff members Judy Macedo, Maggie Smith and Christine Bollin sign-up as a team. (Bottom row, right) Diabetes Association Advocate Virginia Senna-Davis describes some of the low-impact aerobic sessions on that will be offered at the Diabetes Association at 170 Pleasant Street for $2 per session as part of the challenge.