"It's taken on a life of its own," says End-To-End organiser Anne Mello after Saturday's successful charity event saw around 1,400 people traverse the island by various means.

Around $160,000 has been raised so far but Mrs. Mello believes the figure could top $200,000 as she urged people to turn in outstanding pledges to Mobility Ltd.

She was particularly impressed with the amount of children doing the Middle to End walk.

She said: "I think of myself when I was 12 would I have walked 15 miles? No way!

"But they walked with great support for each other and were totally involved in all the excitement of the walk.

"It's something all the committee noted, especially with all the talk of obesity in children it's something which could positively effect kids.

"If they get ready for the walk every year it would go a long way to getting them fit."

Schools out in force included Sandys Middle School and Berkeley said Ms Mello.

This year saw the first end to end dive with eight divers taking just over two hours from Spanish point to Dockyard.

"It was under the main shipping channel but we made sure there were no ships going past."

Kayakers also got involved ? 25 paddled the 7.2 miles from Shelly Bay to Dockyard along with rower Mike Swain.

Ten kayakers left from Spanish point made up mainly of students from the Bermuda High School for Girls.

Public support for the End-to-Enders was magnificent said Mrs. Mello with handing out water and sandwiches.

She said Stewart Mott handed out Mott's apple juice to everyone who passed his Somerset home and touched his recently acquired Masterworks hogge while at Pokiok farm in Smith's a kindly lady handed out sandwiches to walkers and cyclists.

Families were camping out in force on Boaz Island. "It was just like May 24."

Travel writers from America and Canada walked and cycled the route.

She said there were around 325 end to end walkers, 700 to 800 middle to end walkers, 175 cyclists including 100 who did the entire route and 75 itsy-bitsy walkers doing a walk round Dockyard.

Charities benefiting are Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Coalition for the Protection of Children, the Bermuda End-to-End Railway Trail Initiative, the Neverland Foundation's support for HIV positive children, the Bermuda School of Music and the Visitor Industry Partnership.