Two Castles Run between Warwick and Kenilworth Castles cancelled due to Coronavirus outbreak

The run, which was due to take place on June 14 and is a major fundraising event for causes supported by the Rotary Club of Kenilworth will not take place at all this year.

In an email to those who had registered to take part, the organisers have said: "Sadly, and regrettably, this not for profit event organised entirely by volunteers to raise funds for charitable purposes has been cancelled following the directives and advice provided by HM Government surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19)

"The organisers have been looking at this for some time now particularly looking at the options which might be available to us.

"Postponement to a date towards the end of the year was not a viable option without knowing for how long the coronavirus would still be an issue and the difficulties in booking all the third parties we rely on to stage the event including both Warwick Castle and Kenilworth Castle.

"Deferring all registrants' places to the 2021 event did seem a possibility but there was no way of knowing how this would impact on the registrants in 14 months' time and the uncertainty of changes in regulations in events such as ours which have already taken up much of our planning for this year's event even before the coronavirus became an issue.

"Notwithstanding the no refund policy clearly set out in the declaration included in the registration form and which has applied for many years the organisers wish to approach this unprecedented problem in a moral and ethical way.

"In planning the 2020 event which takes several months it is necessary to make contracts with many third parties and this involves paying deposits and a commitment to honour each individual contract

"The organisers have therefore decided to issue a partial refund to all registrants for the 2020 event after we have identified the total of all our contracted costs.

"This will enable us to honour those commitments to third parties many of whom have worked with us for several years and without whose involvement this unique event could not take place each year.

"For the first time in our 37-year history, good causes will not benefit from your support of the event.

"Once the net amount available has been identified it will then be distributed on our behalf by Fullonsport and be issued to the card used for each registration.

"We hope you will bear with us whilst we deal with this matter and once we are in a position to make the refunds we will advise all registrants by email and hopefully also provide you with an opportunity should you so wish to allow your partial refund to be retained by us for charitable purposes. We may if the system allows give preference to the 2021 event to all who have supported us in 2020.

"Finally, the organisers wish to thank you all again for the support you have always provided to the Two Castles Run over many years.

"Without your support, good causes would not be able to share in the considerable amount the event and participants raise each year."

www.twocastlesrun.org.uk