FRIDAY, MAY 4: A quarter of a century ago three friends came up with the idea of walking from one end of the island to the other.
Little did they know back then that their actions would become a Bermudian tradition and more than two decades later the event would be celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Jon Borrill along with Paul Rawlerson and Clive Cotton, were the three founders of the End-to-End and this week Mr Borrill returned to Bermuda to join in the celebrations.
He told the Sun the event had become ‘an astonishing mobilization of the island” and he was proud to be associated with it.
He added: “I don’t think any of us would ever have imagined that what we did 25 years ago would have become the spectacle that it is today. Some 180 people took part in the first End-to-End.
“On Saturday, 2,500 will take part in it. That is incredible and I am very happy to be back in Bermuda mark the occasion.”
Mr Borrill arrived in Bermuda in 1986 from the UK and worked for Johnson and Higgins as a manager. He met his wife Roisin on the island and the pair moved to Vancouver in Canada in 1994.
The couple arrived back in Bermuda on Wednesday for the 25th anniversary celebrations and Mr Borrill will be joining walkers as they trudge along the tracks tomorrow.
Proud
He added: “I have worked out that over the years each completed mile of the End-to-End has raised $200,000. In other words every step raises $100.
“Those are amazing figures and I’m very proud to be associated with the origins of the event.”
Anne Mello, who organizes the End-to-End, told the Sun that over the last 24 years the event had raised more than $4 million for 86 local charities.
She added: “Without exception, each person or group that has been involved or affected by this event has come away with something positive.
“Whether it’s the feel-good factor of pledging financial support for a family member or friend, the recognition by our sponsors of the key role that they play in our success, the enjoyment gained by our spectators who line the route or the fantastic feeling of satisfaction for a job well done for all of our hearty participants — everybody wins!
“And then, we extend the reach of these great outcomes even further by using every dollar of the entry fees, pledges and other funds, to help strengthen our island through the support of the work of some of our finest local charities.
“So I see that this 25th anniversary is a reason for everyone to celebrate and feel proud to be part of these community achievements that represents the very best of Bermuda.”