What has become Bermuda's foremost charitable effort was born out of a wager between three employees from the insurance industry 21 years ago. Now, the Bermuda End-to-End continues the tradition.

The initiative sees about 2,500 grass-roots supporters collecting pledges to walk, row, swim, cycle or otherwise make their way across the Island in a one day blitz for Bermuda charities ¿ it raised $250,000 last year.

Now called the Catlin End to End, after reinsurer Catlin Insurance Company Limited, signed a three-year agreement to be the prime sponsor, cementing the event's relationship with the reinsurance sector. This year's End-to-End will take place on Saturday, May 3. For more information on the event such as registering and pledging, visit www.bermudaendtoend.bm.

Additionally, during the week of April 28 to May 2, there will be a site available in Hamilton where face to face registration can take place and goodies bags and event numbers will be available.

Anne Mello, Chair of the Catlin End-to-End committee said yesterday: "We have always relied on the generosity of corporate sponsors to organise our event and we could not be more pleased with the new level of sponsorship offered by Catlin over the next three years.

"All of our sponsors are crucial to us and having Catlin's added support allows us to enhance and upgrade our event and could even allow us to make special grants to deserving causes."

However, Ms. Mello emphasised, the need for event participation is as strong as ever, because the pledges raised by End-to-End participants are what support local charities each year. She said: "We have people of every age and background taking part in this event which makes this the most inclusive fund-raising effort on the Island."

Catlin president and CEO Graham Pewter expressed enjoyment that his company will be the title sponsor of the event: "Frankly, the opportunity to become involved in a major event that engages all sectors of the community was irresistible to us.

"Many of my colleagues have been involved in the End-to-End over the years as participants, I last walked it in 2004 and I will do so again this year.

"And I'm sure more of us will be very active as participants in manning stations throughout the course on the big day.

"We hope, through this, to play our part in ensuring the End-to-End continues to go from strength to strength."

Ms. Mello also noted that the event will continue to rely on the support of its other corporate sponsors to organise the big day.

The six registered charities that have been selected to benefit from the fundraising effort have pledged to utilise funds to cover a variety of their community-based projects.

They are: The WindReach Recreational Village, The Adult Education School, The Family Centre, The Duke of Edinburgh Award, Greenrock and the Bermuda National Trust.

WindReach President Lance Furbert, whose charity facilitates a nine-acre site in Warwick to enrich the lives of special needs people, spoke of an exciting summer project.

Mr. Furbert said: "We greatly appreciate the support we get from the End-to-End. This year the funds will support an inclusive summer camp. Many in the community may realise that it's very difficult indeed, with people with special needs children to find somewhere to place their children in the summer when school is out.

"At WindReach, we not only have special needs participants we also have special needs counsellors, so it's a totally integrated camp and it's a great need in the community and a great help indeed, with those with special needs."

For the Family Centre, the investment will enable the charity to have a stronger presence in the community, specifically to be more accessible to families.

Family Centre President Martha Dismont explained: "We are hiring a community worker to be in the community to go to families where they are to provide triage services, counselling services and parenting groups.

"And this is a wonderful beginning to that effort which I know my staff are going to be very excited about because it means we will get to more families ¿ I thank the End-to-End participants on behalf of our board, staff and the families."