Almost four times around the world...96,200 miles...4,581 lengths of Bermuda...253,967,260 steps...

However you put it, Bermuda's middle school students put in a mammoth effort during the "Walk Around the World" challenge.

And yesterday they received well-earned recognition when cash prizes were awarded at the Bank of Bermuda HQ boardroom.

The challenge had been organised by the Bermuda Diabetic Association to raise awareness of diabetes ? and the importance of a healthy lifestyle.

Acting Governor Nick Carter told the awards ceremony he was impressed with the tremendous effort in Bermuda to prevent the scourge of diabetes type one and two.

He thanked Trevor Madeiros ? president of the Bermuda Diabetic Association (BDA) ? and his team for raising funds for the cause and he urged students to encourage people to get "get off the couch and start to walk".

Education Minister Terry Lister congratulated the BDA team and the schools for their participation.

He said that type-2 diabetes was an "uncommon illness" 25 years ago in Bermuda.

"Many of those now affected are under the age of 25, teenagers or even younger which is why the Bermuda Diabetic Association came up with the Pedometer Challenge to raise awareness among our young people," he said.

Mr. Madeiros presented awards to the schools with the most steps taken.

Small tokens of appreciation were given to various teachers for their hard work in the challenge.

Steve Halischuck from Spice Valley, Dianne Laird from Dellwood, Jackie Tailford from Mount Saint Agnes, Ajene Webb from Whitney and Lucy Peters and Mary Faulkenberry from Bermuda High School for Girls were given $25 gift certificates.

Recognition was given to high achievers from the schools.

Catherine Cooke, Riley Mello, Nikki Marshall and Emily Addington from BHS received awards. Emily's effort was particularly noteworthy ? she recorded the record high 19,342 steps.

Aysha DeSilva, Rebecca Pacheco and Rafaela Ponte were recognised from Whitney and Rashon Stobo and Tre'Shun Correira from Dellwood.

Terin Darrell and Matthew Coehlo from Mount Saint Agnes and Kennith Burt, Rebecca DeCouto, Joshua White, Helena Caveli-Astwood, Danielle Harney and Ty-Rae Boyles from Spice Valley were also awarded.

The top three teachers who participated in the event were given gift certificates to Sports R US.

June Swan from Dellwood recorded 16,720 steps and was given a $250 certificate. Mike Neville from BHS recorded 17,379 steps and got a $300 certificate. Annie McAvoy beat them all by recording 23,352 steps a day which is over 8 miles a day.

The top four classes in the challenge were given cash prizes for their schools.

Spice Valley's M1 class recorded 4,326 steps per student and won $250. MSA's M2 class walked 5,363 steps per student and was awarded $250. 6,243 steps per student was recorded by BHS's M1 and received $500 for their school. Spice Valley's M2 class recorded the most steps ? 7,312 ? and won $1,000 for their school.

The cash prizes were made possible through a donation from the Ross "Blackie" Talbot Charity Golf Classic.