Organisers are again hoping to break the 1,000 mark for the PartnerRe Women’s 5K Run and Walk, which starts and finishes at Botanical Gardens tomorrow.

By yesterday, a little more than 900 had signed up for the popular event and, after today’s late entries are added, that number could rise to the magical four figures.

Ashley Estwanik is back to defend her title and will be one of the favourites. She won last year in 19min 7sec, more than a minute clear of Tamika Williams in second place, while Victoria Fiddick completed the top three.

Rose-Anna Hoey, who missed last year’s race because she was expecting her first child, will again be on the sidelines as a race organiser. She expects a competitive race among the Island’s top women, including Deon Breary, the former Bermuda Day Half-Marathon winner, and Jennifer Alen.

“Deon is in great shape and is training for the Philadelphia half-marathon,” Hoey said. “I’ve been running a lot with her lately. Victoria Fiddick is coming off an injury, but is always strong.

“Laura Wright, Catherine Mello and Krista Dyer are looking great, so it looks like we will have a fun race. We have 1,000 beautiful giveaways and the hot pink shirts are fabulous this year.

“We want to see as many girls and ladies out there walking or running and supporting a great cause — the Bermuda Diabetes Association Gestational Diabetes Project.”

Since 1998, the PartnerRe Women’s 5K Run and Walk has raised more than $390,000 for female-related causes in Bermuda, including programmes to fight heart disease, confront physical abuse, support rape victims, educate teenagers, combat breast cancer, and fund equipment and initiatives supporting the treatment of women’s health. This year marks 17 years of support for women’s causes in Bermuda and this year the entry fee — matched by the title sponsor — will go to the Gestational Diabetes Project.

Online entries closed yesterday but late entries are available at the number pick-up this morning at the Jack King building in Botanical Gardens from 9am to 11am.

Race awards include thousands of dollars in prizes for all age categories, plus fantastic draw prizes and grand draw prizes. Draw prize winners must be present at time of draw.

The races will start at the Botanical Gardens, with the girls’ race beginning at 8.15am and the main race at 9.00, with the walkers leaving at 9.05.

Parking is available in the Tucker’s property near the South Road gate of Botanical Gardens. There will be no parking on the Botanical Gardens property.

n Anna Eatherley beat Jane Christie by four seconds to win the inaugural PartnerRe 5K in April 1998 in 20min 14sec. Some 165 runners and walkers competed that year as Penelope Butterfield completed the top three finishers.

Eatherley, who no longer resides on the Island, won five of the first eight races, including setting a record time of 19:01 in 2003. That mark was shattered by Estwanik in 2006 when she broke the tape in 18:26.