"Go Red for Women Day" in Fall River was celebrated on February 3rd, 2006, at Government Center with an informal luncheon for City Hall employees in the first floor cafeteria. The event is one of numerous similar events across the country promoted by the American Heart Association to bring awareness to women of the risks of heart disease and behaviors that can prevent it. The Fall River event featured presentations by representatives of the Southcoast Hospital Cardiovascular Prevention Program, the WIC (Women, Infants, Children) Nutrition Program, and Partners for Clean Air tobacco prevention program, each of whom also offered display tables in the Government Center lobby. Government Center employees used the opportunity to describe some of the things that they themselves were doing to reduce their risk of heart disease, such as getting regular exercise, eating smarter or quitting smoking. The event, which raised several hundred dollars for the Heart Association, was hosted by the Fall River Health Department and Healthy City Fall River. Heart Association pins and sign-ups for Downtown Walking groups are available at the switchboard in the lobby of Government Center through the month of February.
 

(Top row, left) Judith Coykendall and Susan Dickens of Partners for Clean Air chat with Nancy Pavao from the Law Department at the display tables before the luncheon begins. (Top row, center) Community Coordinator Maureen Estes welcomes the group. (Top row, right) Lisa Alves of the WIC program and Jaonne Camara of the Health First describe their services. (Middle row, left) Voter Registration Director Maureen Glisson introduces Nancy Pavao who talks about what motivates her to live a healthy lifestyle. (Middle row, center) Amanda Szot and Donna Querim of Southcoast Hospital describe the cardiovascular and dietary services available through the hospital. (Middle row, right) Ms. Glisson introduces Theresa Methat and Louise Alves who practice heart-healthy lifestyle. (Bottom row, left) The group roars with laughter following a joke by Paul Solomon, Director of Veterans' Services. April Cabral of Veterans' Services jokes about taking her heart health much more seriously now that she has reached the ripe old age of twenty-five! (Bottom row, right) Kim Desoto of the Building Department and Kerri Ayash of Licensing talk about how a sense of humor and a worry-free attitude are good for one's heart. All were invited to sign up for a new Downtown Walking group being organized by the Health Department.