THE annual Monmouth Raft Race, a major fundraiser for St David's Hospice Care, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event, organised by the Rotary Club of Monmouth, was scheduled for Sunday, September 6.

It is the latest in an ever lengthening line of cancelled fundraising events.

The popular event sees a flotilla of homemade rafts travel in one form or another from Monmouth to Whitebrook.

It usually generates thousands of pounds for St David's Hospice Care.

The Newport-based hospice is struggling to raise the £2.5m a year normally covered by its events.

The event, sponsored by Mandarin Stone, was to have been staged for the 55th time this year.

St David's Hospice Care chief executive Emma Saysell said: "Cancelling the Monmouth Raft Race was a joint decision between the hospice and event organisers Rotary Club of Monmouth.

"Cancellation of the event is a major blow for the hospice and only adds to the severe fundraising problems we're already facing.

"It is with a heavy heart that we have to cancel any event but it is especially hard with the Monmouth Raft Race as it is such a huge social occasion for everyone involved.

"The health, safety and well-being of everyone at our events is of course at the heart of everything we do.

"We thank you in anticipation of your continued support throughout these very difficult times."

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Organisers are now working to secure a date for 2021.

If you have a raft booked for this year’s race organisers have said they will be in touch very soon.

Norman Williams, on behalf of Monmouth Rotary Club, said: "We took the decision to cancel very reluctantly, after assessing the difficulties of managing the social distancing restrictions.

"The principal issues were, crews on rafts can't socially distance, raft parking areas, at both start and finish, become very crowded with crews, supporters and spectators; our event stewards frequently have to work in close proximity with each other, and with raft crews and the event attracts several thousand spectators who mill around at the start and finish, as well as crowding onto the bridges. Something we cannot control.

"We did consider postponing the decision to cancel until nearer the event, but our assessment is that social distancing restrictions, and the subsequent ban on crowds gathering for events, will still be in place in September.

"A delayed decision would be unfair on raft crews who would have spent time building rafts, making travel arrangements, booking accommodation, and raising sponsorship.

"The cancellation of the raft race represents a big hole in the club fundraising activities, and we deeply regret the loss of funds that we would have raised for St David's Hospice Care. We'll focus on making the 2021 raft race bigger and better than ever."

St David's Hospice Care currently faces the biggest challenge in its forty-year history.

As a result a JustGiving page has been set up in a bid to help fill the gap.

Mrs Saysell said: "The page now stands at £44,000.

"I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has supported us over the past few, very difficult weeks."

To add your support, visit justgiving.com/campaign/stdavidscovid19