A POPULAR summer fete - which has in the past survived flooding and an arson attack - has been cancelled for the second year in a row, dealing a £25,000 blow.
Weldmar Hospicecare bosses have made the decision to cancel the charity's summer fete fundraiser for the second consecutive year due to the pandemic.
Despite most Covid restrictions being lifted, bosses still want to exercise caution and fear that the usual attendance of around 3,000 people will not leave enough space for social distancing.
The summer fete, which typically takes place in the meadow behind the Weldmar Hospicecare Inpatient Unit in Dorchester, is one of the biggest fundraisers the charity holds and normally raises around £25,000 – and its loss from the calendar is said to be a huge blow for the hospice charity.
The summer fete raises money for Weldmar through more than forty stalls and attractions, including the popular Nurses Stall, and a Silent Auction.
Celebrity guest Martin Clunes has been a regular visitor in the past, not only posing for hundreds of photos with visitors, but also taking the time to visit every patient in the hospice.
A spokesman for the charity, which provides specialist end of life care for people living in Dorset, said of the event: "After very careful consideration, we have decided that it cannot take place as planned this September.
"In the past, the fete has survived flooding and an arson attack, but was forced to succumb to the coronavirus pandemic last year after running annually since 1995.
"The Summer Fete is a significant fundraising opportunity, raising around £25,000 each year. Without this income, your support in other ways is invaluable."
Weldmar is urging for people to support the charity by donating directly or by taking part in other fundraising events hosted by Weldmar which will be able to go ahead this year, such as the Jurassic Coast Challenge and Weldmar's Sahara Trek.
For more information on Weldmar Hospicecare, visit www.weld-hospice.org.uk
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