Building on the very successful 2008 Fitness Challenge, the second annual Challenge sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA and Healthy City Fall River was kicked-off with a press conference in the CD-REC fitness center on January 7, 2009. The Challenge  begins on January 10th at the same location with a four-hour Health and Wellness Fair. People who want to sign-up and weigh-in can register at that time or anytime until January 31st. Participants are eligible to enroll at the fitness center for $25 for five months. They can also take exercise and zumba classes. The YMCA  is offering a very low rate for special exercise classes and the use of their pool. The Diabetes Association is offering low-impact aerobics classes and classes on healthy eating. Special Fitness Challenges will be held every two weeks to keep people motivated and to provide fun and educational programs. The first of these to be held on January 24th will include healthy eating, physical fitness and smoking cessation. Though the program offers prizes as incentives, the primary motivation comes from the social support and group spirit. Many of the participants are members of competing teams at workplaces around the community. Click here for the Herald News article about the news conference. Click here for the Herald News video. Click here for the Channel 10 report. More information and instructions on how to participate in the challenge can be found at www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com.

(Top row, left) CD-REC director Grace Gerling talks about the success of last year's Challenge as fitness instructor Amy Jones and CD-REC program director Jamison Souza listen. (Top row, center) NBC Channel 10's Healthbeat Reporter Barbara Morse interviews Angie Alfonso who lost 47 pounds last year and who plans to continue losing weight with this year's challenge. (Top row, right) Renee Dufour of Heritage State Park and Healthy Lives coordinator Michael Ramos listen as Jamison Souza explains the program. (Middle row, left) Jamison wears one of the blue wrist bands that will be given to Challenge participants. (Middle row, center) Dr. David Weed, Healthy City Fall River coordinator, talks about the importance of social support in the process of improving fitness. (Middle row, right) Barbara Morse talks with Lenny Kaplan following the event. (Bottom row, left and center) Mike Ramos talks about his experience with quitting smoking and displays a bag full of a week's worth of cigarettes to Fall River Tribune editor Chuck Gregory as Children in Balance project manager Marcia Picard and Fall River Municipal Employee Wellness program coordinator Julie Kelly listen. (Bottom row, right) Fitness trainer Amy Jones of Where is the Workout?