Even though the sun was beating down on their heads, and their feet were aching with blisters, over 700 people completed Bermuda's seventh End to End walk on Saturday.

And it is estimated the walkers raised close to $90,000, which would mean the charity walk will have raised more than $500,000 since it started seven years ago.

This year the money will be split between the Parents' Resource for Drug Abuse Education (PRIDE); Hope Homes for children, the Alan Vincent Smith Foundation, which is an AIDS education group; and Pembroke Community Skating Rink, which is now being built.

Five hundred and twenty people started the 26-mile walk at 8 a.m. in St.

George's, while 315 others decided to do a 16-mile Middle to End walk from Albuoy Point 11 a.m.

CBS This Morning co-anchor Ms Paula Zahn started the walkers off in St.

George's and participated in the Middle to End walk.

Her husband Mr. Richard Cohen decided to take part in the 26-mile walk which clearly suited him well as he reached Dockyard at 1.15 p.m.

However, his wife moved more slowly because she was signing autographs and spent time talking to fans along the way. She reached Dockyard at 4.09 p.m.

Ms Zahn, a serious runner before having a baby six months ago, was elated to be in Bermuda for the walk.

"The pace is so nice here. In the US people are always walking fast to get away from the muggers,'' she said with a smile.

Ms. Zahn joined CBS four years ago but has been in the news business for 17 years.

"My job is incredibly demanding but it is an exciting life.'' she said.

"The hours are long, traveling is significant but I love it, I love what I do and I'm happy to get up in the morning knowing I'm going to do what I do every day.'' The first walker to reach Dockyard was Mr. Frankie Rodrigues who came in at 12.44 p.m.

And the last End to End walker to come in was Ms Ruth Blakeslee who arrived at 5.44 p.m.

This year's End to End walk consisted of a few extra special people, such as veteran walker Mrs. Joan Dismont, 65, who has participated in every walk.

"Every year my time gets better,'' Mrs. Dismont said. She came in just under seven hours.

"I take part in the End to End because I love to walk and I love meeting people. I also like helping charities. I have proved I can do it and the legs just seem to carry me on.'' Taking part in the full walk for the second time was 65-year-old Mr. Abuwi Rasool, who is blind.

Mr. Rasool, who was escorted by Police Insp. Sinclair White, arrived in Dockyard at 3 p.m.

"The first time I did the End to End walk was the first year they had it because it was in aid of the blind,'' Mr. Rasool said.

"This year I wanted to do it because it was a challenge. I did well and I didn't make any stops except for water.'' Two 9-year-old boys also crossed the finish line after completing the 26-mile walk.

Despite the heat, many of the walkers along the route seemed to keep their spirits up by singing songs or just having a good laugh at whatever was in store ahead.

Mr. Bill Holic said the walk had been rough so far. "I started in St.

George's and my ankles are killing me, I have made four or five stops. All I want to do is finish.'' Ms Lenore Thomas, who traveled from Canada to take part in the walk said: "I use to live here for three years and when I was here I always wanted to do the walk. This is how I have started my vacation.

"It's been great and the volunteers along the road have been wonderful. Next year I'll do the 26-mile walk.'' And Ms Carol Schnellick said: "People along the route were great. Little kids came running up with water, it was very well organised.

"Every time we stopped we made sure to thank the volunteers.'' Miss Deadra Burch said the walk made her feel good. "I only stopped when I got to Somerset. It was an adventure.'' One of the End to End organisers, Mr. Ian Birch, said Mr. Tom Lamont raised over $6,000 in pledges, the most money raised individually.

"The day couldn't have been any better,'' Mr. Birch added. "Walkers wanted us to have the walk a week earlier (than last year) so it wouldn't be too hot, but the weather was still very warm.

"The second half of the walk was in the shade which was mostly on railway trails.

"A lot more organisation went into this walk because we wanted to make it bigger with more participation, and we wanted to raise more money. We wanted to raise the profile of the event by asking Paula Zahn to participate.

"We had reached a plateau with the number of walkers in the past and we wanted to have an increase. This year we had 30 percent more participants than last year.'' Mr. Birch said: "The End to End walk has really become a community walk because everyone helps out. We had over 100 volunteers, from people along the side giving out water to businesses donating cups, refreshments etc.'' He added there had been only a handful of injuries, mainly foot blisters or dehydration.