Students from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School volunteered to mark the City's ten designated walking routes using a stenciled footprint patterns as a way of reducing the risks of heart disease, diabetes and a number of other chronic conditions. Healthy Lives coordinator Mike Ramos gathered the students in the Fall River Room at Government Center on a rainy Friday, October 22, 2008, to announce the project and to highlight the importance of people taking steps to reduce their risk of diseases that account for the largest portion of disability and early death in the state. "This project will bring attention to the importance of walking by making it easier for people to follow these routes," commented Ramos. "It's great that faculty and students from Diman have chosen to pitch in to help us get this job done," he added. Students will begin the project as weather permits and expect the project to be completed by next spring. Click here for photos of the first painting project.Click here for photos of the City's START Walking kick-off event. For more information about the walking routes, contact Michael Ramos at 508-324-2427. (Photos by Jenna Lagasse and Dave Weed)
 

(Top row, left) Healthy Lives coordinator Mike Ramos welcomes the Diman students to the news conference on the sixth floor of Government Center. (Top row, center) Diman Principal Brian Bentley and students listen as Healthy City coordinator Dr. David Weed talks about the importance of fitness to improving the health of the City's residents and announces the start of the City's second Fitness Challenge on January 10, 2008. (Middle row, left) Mr. Ramos talks about his own personal commitment to fitness following years of smoking and being overweight. (Middle row, right) Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School Superintendent Rogerio Ramos talks about the commitment of the students to the project. (Bottom row, left) Diman students hold posters depicting the sunshine they had hoped for so the news event could have been held outdoors, (Bottom row, center) Students hold stencils that will be used to make footprint marking on the sidewalk along the ten walking routes. (Bottom row, right)