Their hopes have soared since roughly 300 people turned out for a training walk on Sunday.

"We were absolutely delighted. It is really encouraging,'' said organiser Mr.

Jon Borrill.

Another practice walk is planned for April 10, starting at 4 p.m. at The Modern Mart, South Shore, Paget.

The End-to-End takes place on April 30, and will feature CBS journalist Paula Zahn.

Charities benefiting this year include PRIDE and the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation -- which deal with drugs and AIDS.

Hope Homes and Pembroke Community Skating Rink will also receive a boost.

In 1993 $75,000 was raised by the walk, now in its seventh year.

OPEN INVITATION FOR PHOTO SHOW FNR The Bermuda Audubon Society is extending an open invitation to members of the public to attend an audio-visual show entitled "Underwater Bermuda and the Maldives'' this Wednesday at 7.30 p.m.

The show will feature the work of underwater photographer Mr. Alan Marquardt.

Admission is free though donations are appreciated.

NEW OFFICERS FOR RCS CLB Last month the Bermuda branch of the Royal Commonwealth Society elected several new officers at its Annual General Meeting.

These new officers are; Dr. Majorie Bean OBE, honourary president; Mr. Brian Callaghan, honorary chairman; Mrs. Anna Harris, vice chairman; Mrs. Belinda Darling Meade, honorary treasurer; Mrs. Madeline Callaghan, honorary secretary.

Members on Council; Mrs. Hilary Roberts, Mrs. Audrey Brackstone, Mr. Ivan Cunnigham MBE, Mrs. Jean Gallagher MBE, Rev. William Hayward Jr., Senator Albert Jackson MBE, Mr. Leslie Harmer MBE, Mrs. Sheila MacDonald, Mr. A.

Norwood Smith MBE.

WATSON TO MAKE KEYNOTE ADDRESS CON Mr. Tom Watson, who is the Chairman of Watson Rice International, will be the keynote speaker for the Mid-Atlantic Islamic Summit in Bermuda to be held on April 1.

He is arriving from Hong Kong and Thailand, bringing up-to-date information about business and economic activities in Asia.

Mr. Watson was in Bermuda last March and at that time he spoke about the need for cultural flexibility in global relations.

AIR ARRIVALS ON THE RISE TOU Air arrivals rose by ten percent in February as tourism continued to pick up in Bermuda.

Big increases were recorded by visitors from outside the United States which is traditionally Bermuda's major tourist market.

However the majority of visitors still arrived from the US and particularly the North Eastern cities.

Visitors from America increased, on the same month last year, by 460 or 4.4 percent to 10,944.

The increase in visitors from other parts of the world was 1,070 over February 1994. Canadian arrivals increased by a quarter to 3,668 and UK arrivals rose by 12.1 percent to 1,038.

European arrivals increased by 42.4 percent to 383, with visitors recorded from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden and Switzerland.

But the average length of stay for all air visitors fell from seven nights to 6.8 nights. The Bermuda Hotel Association also recorded a decline from 4.5 to 4.4 nights.

Total bednights also increased on last February, though not by the same percentage as arrivals.

Total air arrivals this year to date are up 10.6 percent to 25,628, compared to last year's first two months.