With just over three weeks to go, preparations for the 2017 Harbour2Harbour Walk, once again sponsored by award-winning developer Dandara, are well under way.

The event returns on Sunday 21st May with hopes last year’s record-breaking entry of 319 walkers will be beaten, and the almost ?4,000 raised for charity will be surpassed.

Nearly 100 walkers have already registered using the online sign-up facility, and participants are benefitting from training and preparation advice delivered via the event’s Facebook page.

The fourth Harbour2Harbour Walk begins on Port Erin beach and follows a nine-mile coastal route to Castletown. To encourage more people to take part this year a shorter second route has been introduced, starting next to the RNLI station in Port St Mary and covering around five and a half miles

The coastal walk is organised by Southern Community Initiatives (SCI) to raise money for a number of important local community projects, including Men in Sheds and SPort Erin. This year money will also be donated to Beach Buddies, recognising the work volunteers do removing litter from the coastline along the walk route.

Event Co-ordinator Janet Bridle said: ‘It’s not long until the 2017 Harbour2Harbour Walk, the culmination of many months of behind-the-scenes work, and it looks like it’s going to be another huge success.

‘Entries are flooding in and we’ve been delighted with the response to the introduction of a second, shorter route, which we hope will encourage more older people and families with smaller children to join us.

‘This is a fun event for the community, offering the opportunity to enjoy a lovely morning walk through a beautiful part of the Island while raising money for charity, so we really want to get as many people as possible involved. It’s open to all and isn’t a competition, just a chance to come together, enjoy the scenery and support important community initiatives.

‘This year we’re also encouraging people to put on fancy dress with a nautical theme, and there will be a prize for the best outfit. The Harbour2Harbour Walk really is about enjoying yourself and having fun.’

She added: ‘I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone involved in preparing for the walk, Southern Nomads RUFC, which will again be providing marshalling, our sponsor Dandara and, of course, everyone who is joining us on 21st May.’

The 2017 H2H Walk will start on Port Erin beach at 10am then head along St Mary’s Road to Glen Chass before joining the coastal path through Port St Mary, along Gansey and Scarlett, and finishing in Castletown’s Market Square. Walkers will depart the second start point at Port St Mary’s inner harbour at 11am.

Based at The Hub - Thie Rosien in Castletown Road, Port Erin -  SCI is home to several initiatives including community art and creative writing projects, crafts, friendly bridge and board games, yoga, meditation and a thriving social fitness group. Its aim is to tackle isolation and loneliness by bringing people together through community projects, as well as promoting volunteering, inclusive communities, and providing a place for socialising and encouraging community collaboration and activities.

Dandara Managing Director Seamus Nugent said: ‘The Harbour2Harbour Walk 2017 is almost here and we’re delighted to be continuing our support for this community event which raises vital funds for local charities.

‘It promises to be a fun day and we hope to see lots of people in fancy dress and more walkers than ever taking part.’

To enter or find out more about the event, please email H2Hreg@hubclubsci.im, call Janet on 838180 or visit www.hubclubsci.im. You can also stay up-to-date with the latest news via Facebook www.facebook.com/harbour2harbour.

Photo - Members of Men in Sheds in Port Erin get ready for the fancy dress nautical theme at the 2017 Harbour2Harbour Walk, sponsored by Dandara.