Mayor William Flanagan announced the 2013 Fall River Fitness Challenge at a November 15th press event and issued his own challenge to local employers and medical care providers to encourage their employees and patients to improve their fitness. The Mayor's challenge was reinforced by Dr. Holly Alexandre of the SSTAR Family Healthcare Center who cited the benefits of exercise in keeping people healthy. Her comments were followed by BayCoast Bank CEO Nick Christ and Sue Potvin, RN, of Family Service Association who each described the benefits of having a worksite wellness program for employees. The event began with a cardio flow demonstration by personal trainer Dara Midwood who will be offering sessions to City employees at Government Center and to the public at Greater Fall River Re-Creation starting in January when the Challenge begins. Other Challenge locations will include the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness and Generations Fitness in Somerset. Click here for or a video of the event. Click here for the Herald News article. Click here for photos of this year's first Warm-up Sign-in event. For more information and to obtain Challenge brochures that can be distributed to patients and employees, contact Annemarie Sharkey at 508-679-0922.

(Top row) Partners Community Health and Well-being manager Annemarie Sharkey introduces Dara Midwood who led a group in a ten-minute Cardio Flow exercise before the announcement. (Middle row) Dr. Holly Alexandre of the SSTAR Family Healthcare Center, Mayor William Flanagan, and BayCoast Bank CEO Nicholas Christ each describe the benefits of fitness. (Bottom row, left) Family Service Association wellness program coordinator Susan Potvin, RN, talks about their agency's return on investment from their program which includes participation in the annual Fitness Challenge. (Bottom row, center) Personal trainer Dara Midwood chats with General Fitness owner Scott Fastino after the event. (Bottom row, right) Partners worksite wellness coordinator Angela Braz talks to Herald News reporter Brian Fraga and Fall River Spirit reporter Phil Devitt as AmeriCorps fellow Brittany Bertone listens.