Marilyn Steede is one woman who never tires ... of giving back, that is.

She made a name for herself in 2003 by becoming the first Bermudian to walk for 24 hours straight.

Twelve years later, she continues with her annual walk-a-thon in support of her favourite charities.

She’ll put on her walking shoes again tomorrow, to assist The Bermuda Sloop Foundation’s youth sailing and character development programmes. Read on to find out how you can help her efforts.

Why did you want to support this particular charity?

In these last recent years there were more and more stories in the paper about the Spirit of Bermuda. A lot were positive stories about the young people and how being a part of Spirit had guided them in the right direction with their life choices.

Then, on the other hand, there were those stories about how the charity, the Bermuda Sloop Foundation, needed more financial support to keep going. Most of the charities I’ve supported in the past are places that you go to when you have to react — you have cancer so you go to PALS or you’ve had a stroke so you go to the Bermuda Heart Foundation.

But this was a charity that is being proactive with our young people. Its goal is to empower young people so they don’t get involved in some of those negative activities they can find themselves in — getting involved with the wrong crowd or peer pressure. I thought because this organisation is proactive in trying to prevent and steer young people in a positive direction, I should help.

How many years have you done a 24-hour walkathon?

This is my 12th year, but I have actually done it 13 times. I did it twice in 2005. That was the same year as Hurricane Katrina. I had already done the walk for the charity of my choice that year and then I got a call from a group that was putting on a 24-hour relay in support of hurricane victims. I was given a call and asked if I would like to take part. Although it can be difficult at times, I do it because I enjoy it.

How much are you looking to raise? What do you hope your donation will do?

I hope my little contribution will help the Bermuda Sloop Foundation to stay strong and always be there. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to raise this year.

Every year my total contribution seems to get smaller and smaller. People are still supporting me, but it’s more challenging economic times these days. I know some people who are regular annual contributors and a few of them are now on a fixed income and can’t give anything, which is understandable. But hopefully my contribution to the charities will still assist them in some way.

• To support Ms Steede’s efforts, call Bermuda Sloop Foundation on 737-5667 or e-mail andreanne.boden@bermudasloop.org

• For more information, visit www.bermudasloop.org