A record number of people are taking part in today’s Catlin End-to-End. More than 2,500 walkers, cyclists and swimmers are signed up to take part in the 25th anniversary event.Hundreds of walkers and cyclists will cover the entire distance from St George to Dockyard, while many more will join at the midway point. A few cyclists are even planning to reach Dockyard and then turn around to ride all the way back.One of the event’s co-founders, John Borrill, will be on hand to witness the milestone moment.When Mr Borrill and two friends founded the Bermuda End-to-End in 1988, they had no idea it would still be going strong 24 years later.For the most part it was just a friendly wager between himself, Clive Cotton and Paul Rowlerson.This week Mr Borrill has returned to the Island to take part in today’s 25th anniversary event. Over the years the fundraiser has raised more than $4 million for over 80 local charities.Mr Borrill, who now lives in Canada, spoke to The Royal Gazette about how the event came about and said he was excited to take part in the milestone event this morning.Explaining the walk’s origins, he said: “There was an interest on our part to do some hiking or walking and we were intrigued of the story of the railway trail.“Then the challenge went out. I wondered if we could walk the entire length of the Island just using the railway trail and that is really how it started.”The friends, who worked at Johnson & Higgins, soon learned most of the Island’s railway trails had been ripped up, but decided to still attempt to walk from one end of the Island to the other.“We came up with the idea in March, but said ‘let’s wait until we can be sure it’s a really good day’ and it was a weekend in May that ended up being the right time. We asked a few friends and colleagues and there was something in the paper about these crazy fellows doing this.“Quite a number of people came out for that walk, about 100, and I think we raised about $10,000.”He said he was shocked over the event’s initial success, but said he was even more astounded by how the fundraiser has grown under its sponsors of five years, Catlin.“I feel incredibly proud that something that started off so small has become so large. I think I am also incredibly grateful and astounded by the level that people have got involved and the enthusiasm of organisers Anne Mello and Starla Williams.“I am also impressed with the enormous number of people that have made it the success it is today. I think all of them deserve the credit for seeing it come to this point in time.”He said the event was great in terms of the physical benefit of walking, but added that it has also managed to bind the community as well.Mr Borrill is hoping to see as many participants as possible today and will be at the starting line for End-to-End walkers in St George’s and the one for Middle-to-Enders at Albouy’s Point in Hamilton. He will also try and greet cyclists leaving from Elbow Beach at 11am.He said: “I think the first year we knew we had something that was obviously popular by the sheer number that came out with very little advertising.“The second year we promoted a little further and more people came out. I walked it all the years that I was in Bermuda — right up until 1994 — and I watched it just get bigger and bigger.”After leaving the Island, he said he followed its progress and wondered how far it would go.Today thousands of walkers, cyclists, swimmers and horse riders will participate in the annual event. He thanked major sponsors Catlin, MJM Limited, Pure Water, Bacardi Limited, Elbow Beach Hotel and CellOne and the event’s board for “making this such a colossal success”.“For me there is a win, win, win here. We identified this pretty early on, the win in terms of the walkers is there is a health benefit.“It’s also a win in terms of where the charities are concerned. I know the charities which have benefited from the $4 million and there are facilities that are provided that never would have existed before and people who have benefited who wouldn’t have otherwise.“The third benefit is the way this walk connects this community. One of the features I absolutely love in doing the walk is the way walkers connect with [supporters] at the water stops. I remember a man named ‘Foxy’ in the John Smith’s Bay area, his smiling face every year was something that held us together.”Stephen Davidson, board member of the End-to-End charity, said: “We’ve been thrilled by the turnout for the 25th anniversary of the Catlin End-to-End, particularly in light of the economy. In fact, this year we have the highest participation ever with more than 2,500 people signed up to walk, ride or swim the End-to-End, in addition to our hundreds of volunteers that make this event possible.“In particular, we have great participation from young people with strong teams participating from Warwick Academy, Somersfield, Berkeley, and Saltus. We are happy for this youth involvement as a key goal for the End-to-End, in addition to raising money for charity, is to engage the community in fun and fitness.”He said it was hard to predict how much money today’s event will raise, but among projects in line to benefit are Age Concern, The Adult Education Centre, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Open Airways, The Family Centre, St. John Ambulance, and YouthNet.“The End-to-End is all about community and the happy vibes you feel out on the trail. We have tourists flying in just for the event. Leaders from the Governor and politicians will be out there alongside students. I think everyone knows someone who’s doing the End-to-End, getting fit for a good cause!” he added.Event co-founder Mr Borrill encouraged people to take part in today’s event and the after-party in Dockyard, which starts at 12.30pm.