After a hot and sweaty 12-mile walk, Bermuda?s Scouts and Cub Scouts raised over $7,000 for the victims of Hurricane Ivan over the weekend.

On Saturday afternoon, more than 25 Scouts and Cub Scouts came into Hamilton in two groups from the east and west ends of the Island, collecting donations from passing motorists and pedestrians.

Their open rucksacks and collection boxes gave the public the opportunity to drop in some change as they made their way along North Shore Road, Middle Road, and South Shore Road.

Scout leader Larry Burchall, who accompanied the boys on the walk with several other parents, said he was delighted to see such efforts from the Scouts ? and from passing members of the public.

The Scouts, which come from various Scout and Cub patrols, met at the Butterfield Bank at 3 p.m. where they began to count their donations.

The money will be sent to the Red Cross this week to help Caribbean victims of Hurricane Ivan.

?We?re very pleased with the effort they made, the public gave them a wonderful reception,? said Mr. Burchall.

?You often hear a lot of negative things about kids, but this was a very positive effort. It was hot, they were thirsty and at times tired, but the understood they importance of what they were doing and they did it. We?re very proud of them.?

He added the generosity of the public was underlined when he was walking with the Cubs along the Causeway. A car stopped and each of the four passengers dropped $10 into the donation box.

Mr. Burchall said it is not yet known where exactly the funds will go, but the Scout Association hopes to receive that information from the Red Cross this week.