Government today launched a fitness programme to help people get in shape for the annual End-to-End walk.Health Minister Zane DeSilva held a press conference this morning to outline Get Ready, Get Fit a 12-week fitness programme leading up to the May 5 Catlin End-to-End.The Minister said: “As we all know, the promotion of healthy lifestyle practices, such as regular exercise, leads to the prevention of many of Bermuda’s leading illnesses and diseases. Obesity, diabetes and congestive heart failure continue to plague our Island at alarming rates rates above the average for OECD countries.“One of the objectives of the Ministry of Health’s Well Bermuda Strategy is to increase public awareness of the factors influencing health and to foster adoption of healthy lifestyles.“The Catlin End-to-End also promotes a healthy lifestyle through its series of activities that, over the years, have encouraged our community to be involved in the practice walks and preparation activities. All of these things, when taken together, can lead to positive lifestyle changes.”He added: “May 5 may seem like a long way away but the sooner you start training, the better you will perform on the day.”Get Ready, Get Fit brochures will be placed in mailboxes to encourage residents to begin the training programme which begins with a 45-minute walk on Sunday, February 12, and ends with the May 5 Island-wide fundraiser.The brochure can also be downloaded from the End-to-End website at www.bermudaendtoend.bm .Funds raised in the 2012 event will support seven charities, with an emphasis on youth, seniors and families.Over the years the Bermuda End-to-End event has raised more than $4 million dollars for local charities making a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Bermuda’s residents …