The Fifth Annual Fall River Fitness Challenge kicked-off at the Kuss Middle School with over 600 people attending and over 300 weighing-in for the four-month series. 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 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. "This event gets bigger every year," stated Personal Trainer Amy Jones who worked with a team of over twenty-five people to put the event on. "We're seeing more and more people coming back year after year as they realize that fitness is something that you have to keep working on. There are no vacations!" Registration is open through the end of the month, 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 last year's event. Call CD-REC at 508-679-0922 for more information or go to www.FallRiverFitnessChallenge.com..

(Top row, left and center) Participants line up outside the Kuss Middle School waiting for Challenge personal trainer Amy Jones Delgiacco to open the doors. (Top row, right) As the doors open, Annemarie Sharkey welcomes the first of over 300 people who came to sign up for the 5th Challenge. (Row two, left) Grace Costa and Deanna Hoffman fill out their registration forms. (Row two, center) Frances Van Ness asks Brenda Viveiros of BMC Health Net Plan a question. (Row two, right) Kimberly Ferrara of WiggleKids talks about her activity program for young children. (Row three, left) Fall River YMCA executive director Frank Duffy talks with Nancy Carrier and Jen Furtado who have returned to the Challenge for the third time. (Row three, center) Krista Raposo and Lisa Griffin pass through the line as Chef Bill Walker of Durfee High School and Fall River Mass In Motion coordinator Julie Kelly behind them talk to people about the Look Who's Cooking television show. (Row three, right) Mayor William Flanagan and CD-Rec program director Jamison Souza are interviewed during a live broadcast by Hector Gauthier of WSAR Radio. (Row four, left) Marcee Therrien leads Nicole Urban, Melinda Quintal and Erik Bjerre of General Fitness during a spinning demonstration. (Row four, center) Fall River School Wellness Coordinator Marcia Picard talks to participants about the upcoming winter farmers' market. (Row four, right) Worksite Wellness Coordinator Angela Bannister talks to a participant about forming a wellness team at her place of employment. (Bottom row, left) Greg Medeiros leads a kickboxing demonstration. (Bottom row, center) Jean Souza purchases a wrist band from CD-REC staff member Tita Tanguay. (Bottom row, right) Former Challenge prize winner Beth Parrent holds up a photo of her before she lost weight, one of many photos of past participants on display.