Two more popular Trinity Hospice events called off 'with a heavy heart' due to coronavirus

Trinity Hospice's 2020 Beaverbrooks 10k Fun Run and Beaverbrooks Bike Ride, planned for May 10 and June 14, have been cancelled to help prevent further spread of the contagious disease.

The news comes just a few days after the Bispham-based hospice was forced to postpone its annual Bubble Rush, which was supposed to take place on Lawsons Showground on April 4. It is hoped the event will go ahead in August on a date to be arranged.

But unlike the Bubble Rush, the fun run and bike ride will not be rescheduled.

A Trinity Hospice spokesman said: "Unfortunately we are unable to reschedule these events for later in the year but we hope, where possible, people will put their training to good use and take part ‘virtually’ as a solo run or cycle, following the principles of social distancing."

People who are signed up for the fun run and bike ride will be contacted by email this week about doing the event virtually, transferring their place to 2021, taking part in an alternative event or requesting a refund.

It costs more than £8m to run all of Trinity's services year on year, and while the hospice receives some money from the Government and local CCGs, it still needs £5m in donations annually to keep its doors open.

More than 2,200 people took part in last year's fun run, while last year's bike ride brought in £360,000 in vital funds for the hospice.