The third annual Fitness Challenge, sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), Children In Balance, Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA and Healthy City Fall River, opened its doors on October 17, 2009 for participants of previous Challenges to get a head start on personal fitness by signing up for a two-month Warm-up. Over 125 participants showed up over a two-hour period to meet with over fifty nursing students from the Diman School of Practical Nursing and the UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing. "Our students are getting terrific hands-on experience doing medical assessments with folks who want to improve their health status," commented Diman School of Practical Nursing director Barbara Pitera. Students check blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference before moving on to a station run by registered nurses from Southcoast Hospital to get their cholesterol checked. Participants will be able to participate in fitness and nutrition events until December 12th. Click here for the  video. Click here for photos of the news event. For more information, contact CD-REC Program Director Jamison Souza at 508-679-0922 or Healthy City Coordinator Dave Weed at 508-324-2411.

(Top row, left) Diman nursing student Tay Soeur takes Monica Campos' blood pressure as part of the Challenge Warm-up sign-in process. (Top row, center) Nutritionist Jessica Williams teaches participants an easy whole grain pancake recipe. (Top row, right) CD-REC Executive Director Grace Gerling talks with UMass-Dartmouth College of Nursing faculty member Kathy Flanagan. (Middle row, left) Raphael Cordeiro gets directions from another Diman nursing student. (Middle row, center) Len Boulay gets his height measured by a Diman nursing student William Dollard. (Middle row, right) Ana Oliveira checks Mary Jo Medeiros' blood pressure. (Bottom row, left) Personal trainer Amy Jones of  Where Is The Work-Out goves over Terri Greenwood's check-in material. (Bottom row, center) Diman nursing student Chrisie Wallace talks with Victor Machado about his results. (Bottom row, right) UMass-Dartmouth nursing student Lance Bard goes over Sandra Lambert's health profile.