The Island's biggest charity event is calling on more participants than ever to help raise money for families struggling in the economic crisis.

The Caitlin End to End charity walk will give charities, including The Adult Education Centre, Alzheimer's Family Support Group, Bermuda School of Music, Chewstick Foundation, The Family Centre, Greenrock, Keep Bermuda Beautiful, The Reading Clinic, Sandys 360 Foundation and Windreach a much-needed hand up in 2010.

They are hoping that more than 2,500 people will take part particularly families who can complete a range of outdoor activities including swimming, boating and horse riding to get to the finish line.

End-to-End chair Anne Mello said: "Families can benefit not only by participating on the day, but through the fitness they all gain in the process. And, also, knowing through their voluntary hours they are giving back to the community."

The charity event, which has raised more than $2.75 million for more than 70 local charities since its inception in 1987, has set its sights on helping charities that benefit families and young people.

Ms Mello said: "We are very aware of the many challenges our local community faces today, including the economic slowdown and increase in crime. Therefore, we have pledged most of our 2010 fund-raising efforts to support and assist our families and children, those who are most exposed to these threats."

She continued: "Our largest support is to help the youth, from paying for math tutors, to supporting job training programmes for special needs children, to ensuring extra-curricular pursuits like music lessons are available to schoolchildren.

"We are also supporting families through projects for building school-to-family links, to educate adults who need to upgrade job skills and projects to bring families together in recreational pursuits.

"Each year some 2,500 dedicated people walk, cycle or otherwise make their way across Bermuda in the spirit of giving to others in the community. The dollars they raise from pledge money results in about $250,000 to give to local charities."

Event costs are funded through corporate sponsorship and participants' registration fees. In addition, all pledges raised by participants are distributed among the selected charities, which must be non-political and nonsectarian, as well as registered with a recognised authority.

l Registration for the event begins in mid-March and can be done on their website at www.bermudaendtoend.bm.