LET'S break the record in our centenary year!That's the call from organisers of the 29th Orwell walk.The Rotary Club of Ipswich East wants to smash last year's fundraising record of £76,000 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the world's first Rotary Club.

LET'S break the record in our centenary year!

That's the call from organisers of the 29th Orwell walk.

The Rotary Club of Ipswich East wants to smash last year's fundraising record of £76,000 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the world's first Rotary Club.

They are calling on people to make last-minute entries to boost numbers for the event on Saturday .

The club's Martin Westlake said: "We have got over 1,000 walkers registered so far, but we want to get the record. There is still time - it is not too late to enter."

The walk will begin and finish at the Gainsborough Sports Centre in Maryon Road, Ipswich.

Participants can choose to take part in either the 25, 18 or 11-mile routes, all of which will take walkers along the picturesque banks of the river Orwell.

For the first time this year, there will be a prize for the most notable achievement by a person aged under 18.

This could include the furthest distance traveled by a person with disabilities or a toddler who raises the most money.

Last year, about 1,200 walkers raised more than £76,000 for regional charities of their choice.

Money was also raised through the walk by supporters of The Evening Star Press Ball fund, which raises tens of thousands of pounds each year for Suffolk charity Disability Care Enterprise.

Although tables for the lavish ball on June 24 are now all booked, the walk is a fantastic way to raise money to help people with disabilities right across the county. The charity buys equipment for disabled people to help improve their quality of life.

The world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, Illinois, USA, was formed on February 23, 1905 by an attorney who wished to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth.

The name Rotary is derived from the early practice of rotating meetings among members' offices.

The registration fee is £2.50 per adult (£5 on the day) and £1.50 for concessions (£2.50 on the day), which covers administration costs, drinks and sponsor cards.

For details and registration forms, visit www.orwellwalk.org.uk or contact Norman Haines on 01473 215333 or e-mail norman@eshalum.co.uk.

You can also call Martin Westlake on 01473 403854 for more details.