The first Challenge Event of the Fourth Annual Fall River Fitness Challenge was held at the Veterans' Memorial Auditorium on January 15th. Designed as an opportunity for Challenge participants to start getting into shape, the event began with ten minutes of Zumba for the 80+ participants and then divided the group into five stations, each doing five minutes of a different exercise. Groups then rotated through all five stations. "It was a real workout," commented Julianne Kelly director of Fall River's Mass In Motion project and a third year Challenge participant, "but it was worth it!" she added. Sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI),  Community Development Recreation (CD-REC), the Fall River YMCA, General Fitness and Healthy City Fall River, and supported by grants from the United Way of Greater Fall River and Partners for a Healthier Community, the Challenge offers low cost opportunities for those who live, work or attend school in Fall River to get fit, lose weight, have fun and win prizes. 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 the video of the event. Click here for photos of the initial weigh-in and health fair. Call CD-REC at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com..

(Top row, left) Personal Trainer Amy Jones of Where Is the Workout welcomes participants to the event and explains what they will be doing over the next hour. (Top row, center) Zumba Instructor Aliana leads the group to Zumba, or dancing to Salsa music. (Second row, right) First-time Challenge participant Darlene Duarte gets into the Zumba exercise. (Third row, center) Alissa Parrillo does her punching exercises with youner brother James Mongeon. (Bottom row, left) Christine McMahon, Michelle Silvia and Laura Carpentier do five minutes of leg lifts to music. (Bottom row, center) 2008 Fitness Challenge winner Daryl Parrent shadow boxes with Jeffrey Estrella as his daughter, Brittnay, looks on. (Bottom row, right) First-year Challenge participants Jamie Griffin and Rhonda Camara do arm raises together for five minutes.