If you're one of the many people touched by PALS, a cancer support group, get your sneakers on - it's time to give back.

The PALS 20th Annual sponsored walk kicks off on February 10 at 7.30 a.m. in Dockyard. The route will be mostly along the Railway Trail and will end at Albuoy's Point in Hamilton.

"We find it very important to raise funds because we are an independent charity," said board member and PALS event organiser Diana Simons. "We do have a grant from government for two nurses."

PALS sends five nurses out into the community to help cancer patients and their families. PALS nurses make house calls to help with patient care. They often take patients to the hospital, or just on a ride. They act as a friend, and they have held the hands of many patients during their final moments.

"People often ask me how I can do something so sad," said Mrs. Simons. "But when you visit someone and you see that smile come over their face, it makes you want to kick your heels up."

PALS has several fundraising events throughout the year including a slide-show given by PALS CEO Ann Smith Gordon, a tag day in May, a fish fry in July and the annual fair.

"There is also our memorial tree," said Mrs. Simons. "It never started as a fundraising event, but people wanted to give something. I guess they thought they were giving a gift to their loved one and they insisted on giving a donation. We are very thankful for that."

This will be the twentieth year for the PALS walk. Over the years the charity has collected about $730,000 from the walk.

"It doesn't seem like a lot compared to what some other charity walks have raised," said Mrs. Simons. "It has been a lot of work to do it. There is a lot of involvement. We are very lucky because Marine & Ports supplies a ferry for us."

The ferry will leave the Hamilton Ferry Terminal at 7 a.m. sharp. Participants must be registered and be wearing their walk number to get on the special ferry.

"We see the sunrise as we go up to Dockyard," said Mrs. Simons. "A lot of our participants have said it is just so gorgeous to see Bermuda that early. It looks so pristine. The ferry arrives at 7.30 in Dockyard. Our walkers get off the ferry and start right away. They almost want to race, but it is not a race. It is a walk."

People take anywhere from three to five and a half hours to complete the walk, which is along the Railway Trail for most of the way.

"It is just gorgeous and you don't want to race, you want to stop and admire the colour of the water, or the colour of the Cedar Trees."

There will be portable bathrooms and and waterstops supplied by Barritts and Dunkley & Pioneer Dairies Ltd. and Pitt & Co. Ltd. There will also be sandwiches, goodies, orange slices and boiled candies to help keep up spirits and energy levels.

At the end of the walk, participants will be presented with a certificate. In previous years walkers have also received medals.

Another board member and event organiser Berlene Smith said this year PALS has seen people entering the walk as part of the Live Healthy programme that many Bermudians are doing to lose weight.

"We had two girls come in to sign up yesterday," said Mrs. Smith. "They said they were doing the 100 day Live Healthy thing. They said they were coming back on Friday, because there were ten people in their office doing it. So that is an incentive as well for people."

Mrs. Smith said many companies give donations to matching what their employees have raised.

Some students also use the walk to fulfill community service requirements.

"We have students directing people through the Railway Trail and over various crossings," said Mrs. Smith. "There are areas where people get lost. A few of our students have loved it so much they end up doing the walk as well. However, we like to have them with a parent."

According to PALS, last year they had one of their best turnouts with 230 walkers who helped to raise $70,000.

Unfortunately, the success of the walk is often dependent on the weather. In 2006,the money raised was half of that of 2007, because of poor weather.

"We choose February, because we want to be the first walk of the year," said Mrs. Simons. "Plus, it is cool to walk, sometimes very cool. If you have it later in the year it can be too hot."

On walk day, Mrs. Simons and Mrs. Smith are at their respective stations in Dockyard and Albuoy's Point at 6 a.m..

"I am usually pacing up and down, praying that the weather will be good," said Mrs. Simons. "We have to check that everyone is registered and has their number in order to get on the ferry."

But she said the idea is not to race, but to raise money for cancer patients.

"One gentleman came in to our registration desk in the mall," said Mrs. Smith. "He was new to the island. He asked what it was about and we told him. He took a flyer about what PALS was. He came back a few days later and said he wanted to do the walk. Yesterday, he came back again and had filled out two pledge sheets already. There are spaces for thirty people on each sheet. And he picked up two more pledge sheets. He was so enthused."

Mrs. Simons said some people feel uncomfortable about asking others to sponsor them.

"I just tell them, your poor feet have walked 15 miles," said Mrs. Simons. "Surely, that is worth at least $20 per pledge. But people are wonderful. We just use the pledge sheets. There is no entry fee."

She said there is a special prize drawing for those who have brought in more than $500.

She emphasised the importance of turning in pledge sheets. Every year there are some people who forget.

To register see PALS at a number of locations including the Washington Mall Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11.30 a.m. to 2.30 p.m. , St. George's at the National Trust Museum from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and at the PALS office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information telephone 236-7257 or email them at pals@northrock.bm or go to their website at www.pals.bm .

If the weather is bad and the ferries aren't running, the walk will be held on February 17.