Charities geared toward young people are to benefit from the 2009 Catlin End-to-End.

Organisers behind the annual fundraiser yesterday named 11 organisations which will this year receive its support.

The number is a marked increase on previous years, when typically five or six charities were selected as grant recipients.

"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," said Bermuda End-to-End Charity chair Anne Mello. "This year, as the economy is not as robust as in the past, we are more conscious than ever of the needs of children and seniors, and this is where we have pledged to put most of the funds from the 2009 event."

Although more than $250,000 in grants are usually distributed between five or six organisations, trustees this year decided to make smaller contributions to more charities, she added.

"We believe that spreading our giving more widely will help more individuals. Our largest support will go to youth, from sponsoring free meals for Bermuda schoolchildren, to paying for reading tutors, to supporting programmes for talented children, to ensuring extra-curricular pursuits like music lessons are available to schoolchildren as well. We will also support projects for counselling families in crisis, and for those with special needs."

Charity recipients for 2009 are as follows:

• The Aerie Foundation: Provides a range of services to meet the needs of seniors. Funding caregiver support for senior citizens and their families its Seniors' Programme

• Open Airways: Helps people of all ages to breathe freely. Funds raised will support the "O To Be Able to Breathe" awareness and support programme for seniors with chronic airway diseases.

• Bermuda Red Cross: Provides emergency care to people in need and crisis in their homes and in the community. Funds raised will support a transport programme for special needs' individuals.

• Coalition for the Protection of Children: Provides a range of services to children and families in need. Funds raised will support the 'Breakfast for Every Child' programme at Victor Scott Primary School.

• The Family Centre: Creates a healthier community by strengthening families. Funds raised will support the 'Caring for Families' programme for children in crises.

• The Reading Clinic: Works to make literacy a reality for all children and adults in Bermuda. Funds raised will support the 'Tutoring Programme Fund' for children with dyslexia.

• The Menuhin Foundation of Bermuda: Provides free group tuition in stringed instruments at every public school in Bermuda. Its Saturday Centre provides three orchestras and music theory classes. Funds raised will support accessibility to music tuition for all interested students.

• Centre for Talented Youth Bermuda: In affiliation with Johns Hopkins University, offers classes and testing for talented youth in public and private schools.

• Windreach: Seeks to enrich the quality of life for people with special needs. Supporting recreational programmes for special needs' children.

• BIFF Kids Children's Film Festival: Advances the recognition and appreciation of independent film. Funds raised will support the BIFF Film Academy for students.

• Bermuda Public Library: Supports free literature for the community. Funds raised will support a van for the outreach service to schools.