ARK Day 2020 has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic – but the organisers have pledged it will be back bigger and better next year.

The first-ever Ark Day took place on Friday, June 21, 2019 as individuals, schools, businesses and community groups all pitched in to raise more than £32,000 for Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

Ark is raising £5million to provide supportive care and services, complementary therapies, and an enhanced environment in a NHS cancer treatment centre at Basingstoke hospital.

The Covid-19 pandemic, and the impact on our local community, means many of the events that were planned for this year’s campaign – including a charity dinner, charity golf day, and a charity bike ride by the Arkriders fundraising group – cannot now go ahead.

Andy Jackson, chairman of the Ark Day Organising Committee, said: “We are sorry that we cannot go ahead with the Ark Day 2020 campaign as planned, but the committee feels that for many reasons, it is right to postpone our major fundraising events until next year.

“We understand that people are facing massive challenges on many levels. Even if the current lockdown restrictions are relaxed in a few weeks, our community and country will take a considerable time to get back on its feet.

“We will be back in 2021 when we will deliver a fun campaign that is bigger and even better than the first Ark Day. We look forward to it being a real community-wide celebration and show of support for this great local charity.”

Merv Rees, Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee, said: “Thank you to the Ark Day Organising Committee for their great support, and for the hard work that has been done on the Ark Day 2020 campaign. The Ark team understands, and fully supports, the decision to cancel this year’s event. These are testing and challenging times for everyone, and the Ark Cancer Centre Charity team will continue to do what we can to help and support cancer patients and their loved ones during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Anyone who wishes to find out more about Ark Cancer Centre Charity can do so by going to arkcancercharity.org.uk.