The Sixth Annual Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge kicked-off at the Kuss Middle School with over 500 people attending and over 300 weighing-in for the 18-week series and offered participants information from representatives of 25 local organizations. Sponsored by Partners for a Healthier Community and Southcoast Hospitals, the event was organized with the participation of All Generations Fitness, the Diabetes Association, Inc., Fitness Fusion, FitWorks, General Fitness. Greater Fall River Re-creation, Healthy City Fall River, and the Fall River YMCA. The Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in the Greater Fall River Area to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. "We are so pleased to be able to offer the Challenge to people from Somerset, Swansea and Westport," stated Coordinator Annemarie Sharkey who worked with a team of over twenty-five people to put the event on. "We see people come back year after year as they realize all of the benefits of living a fit lifestyle, and this year we're placing a much bigger emphasis on good nutrition with many free learning opportunities as part of the Challenge," she added. Registration is open through the end of January, and many people will register and weigh-in at their workplace in the coming weeks. Click here for the video of the event. Click here for photos of last year's event. Call CD-REC at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com.

(Top row, left and right) Fitness Challenge Fitness Leader Tracey Primo hands Kathy Diffley of Somerset a registration form to complete before Mel Ferreira, her daughter, Linda Freire, and her grandaugher, Sienna, look over the information on 25 vendor tables. (Top row, center) Fitness Challenge Coordinator Annemarie Sharkey gets ready to go on-air live with Hector Gauthier of WSAR Radio. (Row two, left and right) Brian Laferrie, Nicole Aftosmes and Marisa Mofkofs of All Generations Fitness answer questions before Sue Eldridge leads a fitness workout. (Row two, center) Fall River YMCA executive director Frank Duffy goes over the schedule of fitness classes that they offer. (Row three) Demonstrations include Spinners from General Fitness, Zumba from All Generations, and Kickboxing from Fitness Fusion. (Row four, left and right) Children try a fitness routine led by Tabitha Gendreau of FitWorks while Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard talks with parents about removing sugar from the diet. (Row four, center) All Generations owner, Shaun Pacheco, leads a work-out session to music. (Bottom row, left) Greg Medeiros and Amy Delgiacco, right, of Fitness Fusion lead a final workout. (Bottom row, center and right) Tara Corbett and Brittany Bertone weigh people in at the end of the health fair.