The Ninth Annual Greater Fall River Fitness Challenge kicked-off on January 9, 2016 at the Kuss Middle School with over 300 people attending and over 250 weighing-in for the 15-week series that offered participants information from representatives of more than twenty local organizations. Sponsored by Greater Fall River Re-creation, Partners for a Healthier Community, Saint Anne's Hospital, Southcoast Hospitals, the event was organized with the participation of All Generations Fitness, Fitness Fusion, FitWorks, General Fitness. Greater Fall River Re-creation, TKO Fitness, 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. "Thank you for participating in this, for being healthy and taking control of your lifestyle. I'll be participating as well," stated Mayor Jasiel Correia II. "I gained a couple of pounds on the campaign trail, so I'm looking forward to this." he 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 a 14-minute video of the event. Click here for photos from last year. Call CD-REC at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to the Facebook page.

(Top row) Jasmine Pedro and Susan Jeffrey sign in with RIC Intern Kara Ann Strang before Greater Fall River Re-creation Program Director Jamison Souza gives people instructions and BMC HealthNet Plan representative Brenda Viveiros hands out a free bag to Mary Angel Silva. (Row two) General Fitness Owner Scott Fastino talks with participants while Leonard and Linda Mae Pittsley stop at the American Heart Association table and Emily Bird of the Fall River YMCA describes what they have to offer. (Row three) Lisa Alves describes how the WIC Program can support a healthier diet for both parents and children before Fall River Mayor Jasiel Correia II congratulates the participants and heads to the scales to weigh in. (Row four) The Fitness Fusion team led by Greg Medeiros, center, give a workout demonstration. (Row five) Jenny Botelho and Shaun Pacheco of  All Generations Fitness pose with Barbara Britland and Andre Gadbois before Andre leads a demonstration. (Row six) Andre Gadbois their program to Lisa Furtado and Cristina Carreiro as Karen Pearson describes Bike Fall River and Partners School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard talks about sugar-sweetened beverages with Lee-Ann Carvalho and Susan Medeiros. (Row seven) Phil Sabatino of FRG-TV interviews first-time Challenge participant Adam Melville while Niya Roderigues waits for her mother, Jennifer, at the Southcoast Health Wellness Van and Tabitha Gendreau of FitWorks leads a demonstration. (Bottom row) Tabitha talks with Melanie Crowley while Marcia shows Ed Pacheco, his sister Terry Mahjoory and Amy Texeira the amount of sugar in a bottle of soda while Greater Fall River Re-creation Executive Director Grace Gerling weighs in Celeste Carvalho.