The First Annual New Bedford Fitness Challenge kicked-off on January 17, 2015 with a Health Fair held at the Andrea McCoy Recreation Center at 181 Hillman Street. Open to anyone age 16 or over who lives, works, or attends school in New Bedford can participate and have access to fitness classes and a chance to win big!  Participants can join as an individual or a team of two to ten members for only five dollars per person. Sponsored by the New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches and the Southcoast YMCA, participating organizations include Southcoast Health's Walk with a Doc, Dartmouth Total Fitness, Carabiner’s Climbing and Fitness. The program will also include healthy cooking demonstrations and a final celebration and award event on March 28th. Participants can register until the end of January at any of the participating organizations or on-line. Click here for a three-minute video of the Health Fair. For more information, contact Parks, Recreation and Beaches Director Mary Rapoza at 508-979-1400.

(Top row, left) Nicole Harrison and Jenny Langlois sign-in with Mass in Motion New Bedford Healthy Living Coordinator Julia Kantner. (Top row, center) New Bedford Parks, Recreation and Beaches Director Mary Rapoza greets some of the Challenge registrants. (Top row, right) Cardiologist Michael Rocha, M.D., shows a participant a video of some of the New Bedford Wellness Initiative activities. (Row two) BMC HealthNet Plan representative Brenda Viveiros talks with participants while Heide Patnaude of South Dartmouth looks over products at the Down to Earth Natural Foods table. (Row three) Jeff Costa of Carabiners Climbing shares a laugh with Kerry Mello of Southcoast Health while Nathan Mello looks over their table and YMCA Southcoast COO and Vice-President of Operations Nancy Bonell describes their programs. (Bottom row) New Bedford Mass in Motion Coordinator Kim Ferreira explains the Healthy Dining Program while Jon Leaver gives a massage to Joanne Correia and UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing Junior Elizabeth Savadyga weighs in a Challenge participant.