A fundraising event that has been almost a year in the making has had to be put back 12 months due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Helston Relay for Life, which was to have taken place over the weekend of June 13, has been postponed until June 2021.

It was the only event of its kind planned in the county south of Liskeard this year, meaning people from across west and mid Cornwall were due to get involved.

However, organisers have said that they are now more determined than ever to organise a weekend to remember when it does take place, and are encouraging more teams to sign up now, as they have even extra time to fundraise and make it a great community event.

The relay, to be held at Coronation Park, is raising money for Cancer Research UK.

Groups of between ten and 15 people have been fundraising with smaller events and activities over the last year, which were to have culminated with a 24-hour relay around the boating lake.

When it is finally held the event will include a survivors’ lap and a candle of hope ceremony, to remember those affected by cancer.

The organising committee is already working on providing music, stalls, competitions and plenty of fun things to do for people when they are not completing their lap.

Event committee chair Dave Potter and local fundraising manager Sophie Barber said they wanted to reassure teams who have already signed up that their registration will be automatically rolled over to next year’s event and funds already raised will be credited to next year’s event, so teams do not have to start again from scratch.

Team support will be available throughout the year and more fundraising events will be planned again, when coronavirus measures are relaxed.

In the meantime, candles of hope can still be dedicated. For more information see the @HelstonR4L Facebook page, which will continue to be updated when more is known, and the event website helstonrelayforlife.org