Ten local charities will benefit from this year’s Catlin End-to-End on May 3 and a 12-week training programme will be launched this weekend to help those who want to prepare for the big event.

The End-to-End is now in its 27th year, having grown into Bermuda’s largest and most inclusive charitable organisation.

Coming onboard as key sponsors is The Royal Gazette which will be providing full coverage.

Details of the fitness training programe will appear in brochures to be distributed in mailboxes around the Island this week.

The brochures, also downloadable from the event website www.bermudaendtoend.bm, feature a day-by-day exercise plan that starts on February 8, and includes six community event walks to get participants into top form.

“The time to prepare for the 2014 Catlin End-to-End event is here,” said End-to-End chair Anne Mello.

“Our Get Ready, Get Fit training programme provides the right way to gear up to participate. We want all of our wonderful participants to be in great shape so they can enjoy the day.”

The role of the participants was, she added, “key to the success of our event.”

“As always, we need their help — and the people who sponsor them with pledges — to help raise the dollars needed to support 10 local charities this year. The selected charities are helping children and families, seniors and adults in need as well people dealing with medical or health issues.”

For children and families, funds have been pledged to the Bermuda School of Music, the Centre Against Abuse, and the Family Centre. To give educational support for adults, funds will go to The Adult Education Centre. To help seniors, support will go to Westmeath Residential and Nursing Care Home and Meals on Wheels. Funds will also go to St. John’s Ambulance, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Friends of Hospice, and Open Airways.

The Catlin End-to-End is organised by the Bermuda End-to-End Charitable Trust’s volunteer board and is supported by numerous local sponsors and more than 2,600 individual participants.

The event usually raises about $250,000 to give to charities.

The End-to-End’s mission is to be Bermuda’s premier annual charitable pledge event, committed to promoting the happiness and well-being of our Island community through all-inclusive activities.