People from across the Island will put their best foot forward on Saturday, May 6 in a bid to help a range of charities through the Bermuda End-to-End event.

The organisers of this, the 19th annual event, hope to top last year?s $230,000 fundraising total and attract around 2,000 participants.

The traditional 40 kilometre route takes walkers from St. George?s to Somerset, although cyclists, rowers and even horse-riders have got in on the act in recent years.

New for 2006 are two shorter routes of ten and five kilometres for those who might feel daunted by the full distance and there will even an an ?Itsy Bitsy? walk for kids.

Launching a publicity drive yesterday, Health Minister Patrice Minors said: ?This event has become somewhat of an institution on our annual spring calendar and has helped to raise thousands of dollars for needy and worthwhile charities and organisations.

?I want to throw my support behind the effort this year not just as the Minister but as a participant.

?While I have completed the End to End walk on two occasions, I am pleased to say that this time I will be out there as an End-to-End cyclist.?

The charities to benefit this year are the St. John Ambulance, Bermuda Audubon Society, KnowledgeQuest, PRIDE Bermuda, Project Action, The Family Centre, WindReach Recreational Village and the Women?s Resource Centre.

Anne Mello, chairperson of the event said: ?The End-to-End pulls Bermuda together, and attracts participants of all ages and from all walks of life.?

She urged people to get started now on the special ten-week training programme that is set out in a leaflet.

This, plus a registration form and pledge sheet will be available from today on the event website www.bermudaendtoend.bm.

In addition M3 Wireless, Burnaby Street, Hamilton will be open from May 1 to May 5 for registration between 9 a.m and 5 p.m and until 7 p.m on May 3.

Pledge sheets for the event will also be available from Sports Locker in Queen Street, Hamilton, Sportseller in Washington Mall, Hamilton, M3 Wireless and the Bank of Bermuda head office and branches.