Representatives of new organizations who plan to participate in the Second Fall River Fitness Challenge starting on January 10, 2009, met on December 16th in the gym at the Community Development Recreation (CD-REC) on Bank Street to get a better idea of how the Challenge works. CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza walked the team captains through the registration process and the calendar of events for the four-month event that will enroll hundreds of people who plan to work toward becoming healthier. A news conference including Fall River Mayor Robert Correia and Health Check Reporter Barbara Morse Silva of NBC Channel Ten is planned for January 7, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. at the same location. Mark and Jay Kruger from Dartmouth, finalists in the NBC television show "The Biggest Loser.", will be making appearances throughout the four-month series of events that will offer participant the chance to increase fitness and improve their diet. In addition to CD-REC, the Challenge is being run this year by the Diabetes Association, the Department of Parks and Recreation, Children In Balance, Healthy City Fall River, Healthy Lives, the YMCA and WIC. Click here to see photos of last year's challenge that included over 1,000 people who, collectively, lost 3,400 pounds. For more information, contact CD-REC Executive Director Grace Gerling or Program Director Jamison Souza at 508-679-0922 or Healthy City Coordinator Dave Weed at 508-324-2411.

(Top row,) CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza walks the group through the four-month calendar of events as Executive Director Grace Gerling, Monique Martins of People, Inc., Cathy Velozo of CD-REC, Luis Furtado and Carlos Pimentel of the Language Institute listen. (Middle row) Fitness Trainer Amy Jones of Where Is the Workout and Dave Weed, Healthy City Fall River coordinator, talk about how the Challenge will work this year as Fall River YMCA director Frank Duffy and the participants look at some of the handouts. (Bottom row, left and center) Monique, Cathy, Carol Webber of the Fall River WIC Program and Karen Silvia of the Diabetes Association listen as Renee Dufour of the Department of Parks and Recreation describes a First Day walk that can help teams to get a head start on the Challenge.