End-to-End organisers are hoping to break the $200,000 mark this year after after a bumper crowd turned out on Saturday for the annual charity fund-raiser.

By last night, walkers had already raised $160,000 -- $20,000 more than the previous year -- but many pledges are still outstanding and a lot of the money to be handed in will be matched by businesses.

The turnout of 1,100 was around 300 up on last year and included cyclists for the first time.

"We are keeping our fingers crossed that we can reach $200,000, which would benefit the charities involved greatly,'' said End-to-End committee member Anne Mello last night.

The walkers enjoyed good weather for the annual 26-mile event, which is held in two stages: St. George's to Hamilton, and town to Dockyard.

Among those taking part in sections of the route were `celebrities' including Works and Engineering Minister Alex Scott, Gerald Simons of Argus, Garry Maderios of Belco, Stanley Wright of BTC Mobility, Ace Ltd boss Brian Duperreault, Henry Smith of the Bank of Bermuda, Cheryl Ann Lister of Bermuda Monetary Authority, Muriel Richardson of the Rosedon Hotel, Gene Bean of Bermuda Aircraft Services, Eddie Saints of Cable and Wireless, Scott Carswell of The Marketplace stores, Nancy Gosling of Gosling Brothers, Walton Brown of Research Innovations, Tony Knapp of Bermuda Biological Station for Research, and Paul Hellmers of Centre Solutions.

Money raised will go to Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Fathers' Resource Centre, the Women's Resource Centre, and the Resident /Family Council Continuing Care Programme at King Edward VII memorial Hospital.

Mrs. Mello said she was delighted the walk attracted both old and young.

One of the last over the line at Dockyard was a 72-year-old woman who is deaf, while the last to finish was a team from Bermuda High School for Girls, who decided to do the walk even though they started later than everyone else because they had an exam to complete.

The only medical casualties were people suffering from dehydration, blisters and sore legs.