TEAM of more than 100 residents will compete in the Bermuda Day Marathon Derby this year with the collective aim of raising money for the Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy and help children with special needs and challenges across the island.

The drive is being spearheaded by a local charity, The Friends of Hope Academy.

The group is now encouraging residents to sign up to "run, walk, or even crawl" the half-marathon on May 24.

At present, 112 participants have taken up the challenge, each determined to raise at least $500. Money raised will be put towards "the running and maintenance of the new specially-adapted school bus and towards other school projects for purposes beneficial to the education and care of children with special needs in Bermuda".

The idea was born from a recent contribution to the school. Catherine and Christopher Silvester and their sons Jack and Peter last year spearheaded a campaign which saw a bus donated to transport students to activities around the island.

Jack died before the bus could be donated, but his parents decided to remain committed to the cause, recognising the challenges faced by students at the Academy and the fact that they had been blessed with two healthy sons.

"I became involved because I had two healthy children and wanted to give thanks," Mr. Silvester explained. "Obviously events took a course and now I'm giving thanks in a different way. This is not about my son anymore, this is very much about these children with multiple challenges."

He decided to run the half-marathon as a fundraiser. As such, he determined to get more people on board and contacted well-known local racers Lynn Patchett and Karen Bordage. Mrs. Bordage's six-year-old son, Jeremy, has cerebral palsy and is a student at Hope Academy.

"It started small," Mrs. Bordage explained. "We thought if we could get 25 or 30 runners ? teachers from the school, parents ? it'd be great. However, the response has been just overwhelming."

Two corporate sponsors ? the XL Foundation and Tokio Millennium Re ? have since come on board. The hope is to see 150 people commit to participating in the event, with a financial target of $75,000.

"We're so appreciative of their assistance and, of course, the help of all the people who have committed to running or making pledges," Mr. Silvester said.

Added Mrs. Bordage: "All of this would amount to nothing without everyone who has offered to run on our behalf."

There are currently 17 students at Hope Academy. High on the list of objectives is the purchase of a hydrotherapy pool, to be accessible not only to students at the school but all children with multiple challenges across the island.

"We're calling ourselves Team Hope and I believe we will be the largest team to have ever run in the Bermuda half-marathon. We chose the May 24 race because it is Bermuda Day and we're doing it in support of a Bermudian school," Mr. Silvester said.

Although the students themselves are incapable of competing in the Marathon Derby, they will be soliciting pledges from residents for their 'Move-A-Thon'. Each student and teacher plans to "walk, wheel or move however they can" during school lunchtimes every Monday and Wednesday, travelling 13.2 miles between now and May 24.

"The kids and the teachers are really excited to be involved," Mrs. Bordage said. "It's really an amazing facility these kids have. Prior to September 2003, the children were spread throughout the school system. Now those with more significant challenges are all at one school. Our charity intends not just to support kids at the school but kids with special needs throughout the island."

Mr. Silvester added that while Government was an active supporter of the school, limited funds necessitated the charity's existence.

"Government has provided us a wonderful school, but really there's only so far it can go, so much it can do, because so much special equipment is needed."