Fall River Fitness Challenge participants gathered on a rainy April 23rd Saturday morning for the ninth Challenge event at Community Development Recreation (CD-REC). Unable to run a planned outdoor route, the group began with a mile run of 20 laps around the gym. CD-REC Executive Director Grace Gerling then led the group in some punches and leg lifts to the sound of Salsa music, followed by more workouts led by Carol Webber. Sponsored by the Diabetes Association, Inc. (DAI), 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. Click here for the video of the event. Click here for photos of the first Challenge event, here for the second, and here for the third, here for the fourth, here for the fifth, here for the sixth, here for the seventh, and here for the eighth. Go to FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com  or call 508-679-0922 to learn more. 

(Top row, left) The group gathers in the CD-REC lobby to discuss an alternative to running in the rain and to suggest that they stay indoors at the gym to have CD-REC director Grace Gerling and Carol Webber lead them in a workout. (Top row, center and right) Luisa Tavares and Tara Greenwood do their laps as the group follows. (Middle row) CD-REC Executive Director Grace Gerling, center, leads Alyssa Dailey, Chrissy Lewis, Mel Ferreira and Rick Cormier in some arm punches with hand weights. (Bottom row, center) Carol Webber picks up the pace and continues to lead the group after some leg lifts.