The End-to-End Walk, Bermuda’s annual charitable pledge event, is 20 years old today and only one woman, Joan Dismont, will have walked every year. Reporter Robyn Skinner found out what keeps her going... and going... and going.Seventy-seven years ago she was born feet first and she has not stopped walking since.

An article in The Royal Gazette in 1988 caught Joan Dismont’s attention and sent her on a 19 year, 457.9 mile trek for charities in Bermuda.

Ms. Dismont has walked the End-to-End every year since its inception and has managed to raise more than $30,000 for Bermudian charities.

She holds multiple titles including the individual to raise the most money, the oldest walker and the only one to have finished every End-to-End walk.

Bermuda’s annual charitable pledge event began in a small conference room at Johnson and Higgins, now Marsh Captive Solutions in Victoria Hall, Hamilton, with three employees; Paul Rowlerson, Jon Borrill and Clive Cotton.

In its first year 1988 there were only 186 walkers and there was no formal sponsor structure- companies and organisations donated resources and supplies.

Those 186 walkers managed to raise $43,200, which went to four different charities and by the tenth anniversary the walk attracted 1,313 walkers who raised $150,000.

And the walk continues to grow and change.

With its philosophy of fun and participation, there has been no clocks in sight and has meant for the past eight years more events were included with the hope of getting as many people as possible involved.

In 1997, the Middle-to-End walk was included which is 14.7 miles and starts at Albuoy’s Point, Hamilton.

Anne Mello, End-To-End Chairperson, said: “Rob Sweetgol from Walk Across America visited and he’s a supporter of the End-to-End and was one of the reasons for a shorter distance.

“He also recommended everyone carry a bag of corn starch so they can bathe their feet and told them to take extra socks.”

Further inquiries into the event and for different ways for people to participate led to further expansion about eight years ago to include an Itsy Bitsy Walk for children between the ages of three and six around Dockyard.

Then in 2001 more than 120 cyclist joined the walkers and eventually swimmers, kayakers, rowers and equestrians all joined the ranks of Bermudians all participating in the one-day event.

In fact Nick Strong, the President of the Bermuda Masters Swimming Association, said: “About four years ago some swimmers just showed up and got in trouble by the organisers.

“So finally this year they put me in charge and now we notify the Marine Police and they have been really good at helping us. This year we’ll be swimming from the Western most point of Boaz Island to Dockyard.”

And Mr. Strong remembers three years ago a Scuba Diving group swam under water from Spanish Point to Dockyard as part of the events.

It is the random and crazy ways people have participated and are allowed to participate in the End-To End, which make it so enjoyable.

In 2005, in fact the event was featured in SHAPE magazine and the following year a couple planned their wedding around the walk so their party could join in.

But only Ms Dismont has memories from every walk and she recalls when the walk was actually held from Dockyard to St. George’s and walkers did not wear numbers.

She said: “I saw an ad in the paper. I said that sounds like a challenge. I like to walk and if I can walk and help others that makes it better.

“I’m glad to see children out there. It’s growing. It started with just a walk.

“The first two years I walked with a lady from England and then with a gentleman for another two years, but I don’t worry about who’s walking with me. Though it might be my last year.”

To help Ms Dismont raise funds for the charities, she has organised a dinner for the past 10 years where she invites 20 to 30 friends who pay $50 per person or $75 per couple.

It is a community effort so all of the money raised is a donation to the End-to-End.

A friend makes a big pot of rice and peas, another friend makes chicken, another makes her rolls, Kentucky Fried Chicken donates the coleslaw and Zakai’s Bakery donates the cake.

Through her efforts, Ms Dismont has managed to raise over $1,000 each year she has walked and this she hopes to make closer to $5,000.

Her trek from one end of the Island to the other will also be a community affair- all three of her daughters: Sonia, Michelle and Kari, five grandchildren: Aruna, Matteo, Dakahri, Eva and Nasya, as well as nieces and nephews will join her.

“For my twentieth year we’ve organised a relay. We’re trying to get a baton we can hand off.

“It’s going to start with my daughter Kari White and my grandson, Dakari Dismont who’s only 13 says he wants to walk the whole thing.

“They’re all going to get a chance to walk with me to give me encouragement and I’ll give them encouragement.”

Each family member will walk approximately two miles of the 24 mile walk with Ms. Dismont’s daughter Sonia Burgess pushing her youngest grand-daughter two and half year-old Nasya in the stroller.

And she will be greeted with a banner as she crosses the line of her 20 walk, going 482 miles and raising a possible $40,000 in a one-woman mission.