MORE than 400 pupils from De La Salle College were braving blisters but enjoying perfect weather today for their 45th annual Island walk to raise money for charities and school trips.

The walkers, including several parents and teachers, gathered at 8 am at the first layby on the Esplanade, where this year’s 36-mile walk was started by Denis Le Breuilly, who is retiring this summer after nearly 40 years service to the school.

More than £20,000 was raised on last year’s walk, £10,000 of which went to local and international charities including the Lasallian Developing World Projects, Indian orphanages and educational projects in Kenya.

This year the first £3,000 raised will be divided equally between the Jersey Kidney Association and the Pakistani Earthquake Fund.

Checkpoints have been set up at three-mile intervals and will be manned by parents, pupils and staff.

Motorists are asked to be wary of walkers on all coast roads up to 10 pm tonight.