Visitors from the United States have raised more than $8,500 and counting for five charities in Bermuda.

Edward Carye, his daughter, Meghan Carye, and Karen Nahrwold braved the stormy weather to take part in the XL Catlin End-to-End on Saturday.

“There is nothing like this event,” Ms Carye, from Lexington in Massachusetts, told The Royal Gazette.

“Bermuda is very special to our family and this wonderful experience is a way for us to give back to the island that has given us so much joy over the years.”

Ms Carye’s parents, who live in Belmont, Massachusetts, have been coming to Bermuda since the Sixties.

In the early Eighties, they made the island their annual vacation spot for a few weeks every June.

“We stay at Cambridge Beaches and so we know the portion of the railway trail down in Sandys very well,” Ms Carye said.

“But I had always wanted to walk the whole island to explore more of the trail.

“A taxi driver told me about the End-to-End a few years ago and so I convinced my dad to walk with me in 2015.

“Being from out of town we did not quite realise what a big event it was. The sense of community was unbelievable.”

They raised $1,200 for charity, with Mr Carye being one of the top fundraisers, and this year they set out to beat last year’s total.

And they “recruited” Mrs Nahrwold, from Rutland in Massachusetts, to join in the fun, while Ms Carye’s mother, Christine, volunteered as a road marshal.

“We had a blast, even though there were very heavy rains at times,” Ms Carye said.

“We were just happy to be out with the other walkers and be a part of the community experience along the way. We will be back in June for a vacation but we can’t wait to walk again.”

So far, Mr Carye has raised $4,000, Ms Carye $3,435 and Mrs Nahrwold $1,450, which places them in the top ten individual fundraisers for the event.

“What impresses me the most about their contribution to the XL Catlin End-to-End is that it goes so far beyond just showing up and walking,” Anne Mello, the chairwoman of the End-to-End Charitable Trust, said. “They’ve embraced this fundraising effort extraordinaire.

“And even beyond that, they’ve become ambassadors for Bermuda, not just our event, but Bermuda itself. It’s such a fantastic surprise for us.”

Ms Mello said she was also delighted that Mrs Carye joined in the volunteer efforts by helping people find their way safely and sending them off with a smile.

She added: “They’re such an unexpected bonus to our event, to Bermuda and because of the scope of their fundraising, our Bermuda charities.”

The beneficiaries of this year’s event include Family Centre, Open Airways, Pals, the Coalition for the Protection of Children and Pride.