Outside the facility that treats cardiovascular disease, Fall River's primary health problem, Healthy Lives coordinator Mike Ramos gathered a group of students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School on October 31, 2008, to mark one of the City's ten designated walking routes. Using a stenciled footprint pattern, students put down the first of hundreds of markings that will be placed around the city to help encourage walking as a way of reducing the risks of heart disease, diabetes and a number of other chronic conditions. "This is one way that we can make walking more interesting, and it demonstrates the City's commitment to fitness," commented Ramos. Bridget Kaegael, a volunteer from the American Heart Association, was on hand to underscore the importance of people taking steps to reduce their risk of diseases that account for the largest portion of disability and early death in the state. Click here for photos of the news event announcing the project. Click here for photos of the START Walking kick-off event. For more information about the walking routes, contact Michael Ramos at 508-324-2427.
 

(Top row, left) Healthy Lives coordinator Mike Ramos welcomes the Diman students to the sidewalk outside of Charlton Hospital's Emergency Room entrance as Julie Kelly, coordinator of the Municipal Employees Wellness Program, and Dr. Henry Vaillancourt, Director of Fall River Health and Human Services, listen. (Top row, center and right) Diman High School Facilities management Shop teacher Ron Dufault measures 100' to the next marker and pours more paint. (Middle row, left) Diman students paint the first marker. (Middle row, right) Tenth-graders Tyler Davol and Kevin Hebert paint the second marker. (Bottom row, left) Courtney Leduc and Matthew Isaacson paint the third marker. (Bottom row, center) Students "cut" the ribbon marking the opening of the walking route. (Bottom row, right) Comcast public access channel 95 cameraman prepares to interview Heart Association volunteer Bridget Kaegael.