When $115,000 was raised by big business and those who work in the gleaming citadels of Hamilton's financial neighbourhood to help Bermudian special-needs children at last year's May 24 Marathon Derby it seemed unlikely the astonishing effort would be replicated.

But employees at a cross-section of Bermuda's most successful companies pulled on their running shoes in even greater numbers this year and, helped by corporate "sponsorship matching," an incredible $137,500 has been gathered this time around.

They were assisted by spouses, friends and others who were inspired by the 2006 effort - a total of 110 Team Hope runners compared to 83 a year ago. Most, although not all, had some connection to the Island's corporate world.

It is only now the full amount raised has been totted up, and it means that even more children at the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy will be able to travel to respite camps in the US next summer to experience a degree of independence and meet new friends.

For parents also it presents a chance for a few weeks of rest and recuperation.

So what was the motivation to take part in Bermuda's gruelling, touchstone sporting event - the 13.1 mile run from Somerset to Hamilton on Bermuda Day - for high-placed employees normally to be found tucked away in the swish, air-conditioned offices of the Island's multi-billion insurance and reinsurance?

One of the most poignant observations comes from 6ft 8in-tall one-time Renegades' rugby player Ed Eadie of RenaissanceRe.

A year ago he tipped the scales at 298lbs and decided it was time to shed some of the excess. As an extra incentive RenRe launched its in-house "Biggest Loser" contest to encourage employees to keep in shape. Others in the office began talking about running the May 24 event - in the end 14 runners represented the company.

His get fit regime led to a 50lb weight reduction, but it was when the towering former rugby man went to the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy to collect his "Team Hope" race kit bag that it truly struck why he was about to run a half-marathon to raise money.

"I went to pick up my bag and that was the inspiration for me. At the Hope Academy I saw the kids. When you go in there it is unbelievable," said Mr. Eadie.He ran and ended up finishing with colleague Justin O'Keefe in a highly respectable one hour 51 minutes. Both intend to do it again.Mr. O'Keefe said: "It was such a fun day. It was a truly team event. You would be training with other team members and on the day everyone met up before and after."

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Tokio Millennium Re played a large part in the 2006 Team Hope, and the company was again strongly involved. The firm stumped up $10,000 for the cause, while a team of around 12 averaged $1,000 each.

Amongst them were Simon Arnott and fastest "team hoper" in the race Peter Mills.

Mr. Arnott said: "We increased the sponsorship this year and the number of runners. We had been looking to raise $500 each but it averaged out at $1,000."

Pierangelo Lanfranchi runs the HarbourFront Restaurant, now located next to the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute. He may not be in the corporate financial world, but he caters for many who are, and said it was the wife of Tokio Millennium's Mr. Mills who coaxed him to run May 24 again after a 10 year break.

It turned out to be a fortuitous decision as Mr. Lanfranchi collected the highest amount of sponsorship by an individual, somewhere around $15,000. Restaurant customers, including a number of notable Bermuda CEOs, who learned of his intention to do Bermuda's tough road race, and that it was to help local children, dipped into their pockets to offer pledges that quickly mounted up.

He said: "When they learned it was for children they were very generous. The motivation for me was also to run for the children. When I finished I immediately had a drink of champagne and lit a cigar."

XL Foundation once again provided team race shirts and back packs. A fair number of XL employees and their spouses were also involved in the race, amongst them Greg Hendrick, Chris McKeown and Charles Cooper.

"Chris and I did it last year and trained together. We had people pledge a bonus amount if we achieved a target combined time of three hours 47 minutes - which we did," said Mr. Hendrick.

Mr. Cooper, of XL Re, also ran for a second time this year having been encouraged by former Friends of Hope Academy charity vice-president Chris Sylvester.

Validus' Kean Driscoll has a relative who teaches at Hope Academy and found training together with colleagues and other Team Hope members a great motivation. While Geoff Blee, of Aon, ran for the second time as part of the team and noted the great support from the Island's biggest firms, including Ace and XL.

Karen Bordage, whose late son Jeremy became the "face" of the Team Hope initiative in 2006, and XL Capital's Davina Dickinson have been instrumental in promoting the cause.

Mrs Dickinson, whose young daughter Ashley attends the Academy, walked the May 24 course this year.

She is a director the Hope Academy and chief organiser of Team Hope. She said there is a desire to have a respite camp held in Bermuda, that way the minority of Academy children who are unable to go overseas will also be able to benefit from the summer camp experience. The higher amount of money raised through corporate matching and business employers signing up will go towards making that a reality.

She paid tribute not only to main sponsor XL, but Tokio Millennium Re for providing hats and drink bottles, SigRe for providing running socks, Barritts for supply drinks, Lindo's for supplying fruit, Butterfield and Vallis for supplying granola bars, the physiotherapists who gave their services and countless volunteers, runners and donators who were involved in the 2007 appeal.