Children and parents at the Head Start Spring Fling event held at Heritage State Park on June 6, 2012 helped to kick-off Fall River's second Soda-free Summer Pledge Campaign. The event provided the opportunity to announce the beginning of a City-wide effort to request children of all ages to pledge to reduce or eliminate soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages from their diet for at least the coming summer. Similar campaigns have been launched in California and Boston in previous years. "We want parents to know more about the consequences of choosing soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages on their health." stated Healthy City Fall River coordinator David S. Weed, Psy.D. Sugar has no nutritional value and is a food that should be consumed only occasionally. Sugars from soda and other foods are also a major contributor to tooth decay. School Wellness coordinator Marcia Picard added that children will be learning more about the importance of avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages in their physical education classes in the coming weeks, and middle and high school students will be asked to sign a pledge form printed by Saint Anne's Hospital that they can post at home to remind them not to drink soda over the summer. Click here to see the video of the event. Click here for photos of last year's campaign. For more information, contact Dr. Weed at 508-324-2411.

(Top row) Eitan Levine, dressed as Mr. Tooth, attracts Shara Toomey and her children who want nothing more that to try brushing his teeth to demonstrate good oral health. (Row two, left) Julie Clark prepares to take a picture of her sons, five-year-old A.J. and seven-year-old Anthony DiPietro, as they brush Mr. Tooth. (Row two, center) Angela Bannister, David Weed, Marcia Picard, Betty Nunes, Lisa Alves and Susan Oldrid pose for a photos with Mr. Tooth. (Row two, right)  Saint Anne's Hospital's Vice-President of Mission and Community Partnerships, Susan Oldrid, looks over some of the materials that the Hospital printed for the campaign. (Row three, left) Danielle Travers and Shara Toomey take photos of their children with Mr. Tooth. (Bottom row, left and right) Partners' School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard talks with Mr. Tooth while Partners' Worksite Wellness Coordinator Angela Bannister talks with a parent about the Soda-free Summer Pledge.