Close to 30 members of XL Capital's Bermuda Operations recently gathered at Horseshoe Bay for a clean-up of the Southampton beach.

More than 80 bags of trash, including a CD burner, weed whackers, stereo speakers, and old buoys, were collected during the clean-up which was one of several events held by XL offices around the world to raise funds for breast cancer research.

The events marked the culmination of a year-long Spirit of Life fundraising campaign led by XL Capital Ltd president and CEO Brian M. O'Hara (centre) on behalf of City of Hope, a US-based biomedical research, treatment and educational institution dedicated to the prevention and cure of cancer, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, and other life-threatening diseases.

So far the campaign has raised approximately $1.4 million.

XL Bermuda-based employees raised more than $7,200 from the clean-up and a denim day held on March 19.

XL matching funds from the beach clean-up will go to the City of Hope and the Bermuda TB Cancer & Health Association. Total funds raised by XL offices around the world are still being tallied.

Pictured with Mr. O'Hara are, from left, Marketing Administrator Melanie DeSilva, Director of Global Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy Gavin Arton, IT Training Coordinator Dawn Simmons, and Insurance Claims Analyst Chris Jones.