Organisers of the Lakeland Festival of Light have postponed the event until 2026 as donations fall.
Launched in 2016, the event which sees thousands of people ascend Catbells in darkness and light up the route for charity, will now be held in April 2026.
Matt Le Voi, organiser, said the event had become tougher to run over the years – and the effort to put it on had not been reflected in the fundraising totals.
He said in 2019, around 2,000 people raised £16,000 but this year, around 3,000 people raised £8,600.
He said: “Times have clearly changed, as the event is seeing record-breaking participation figures, and yet the amount we’re able to donate to charity afterwards has been continually dropping.
“Ultimately, the fundraising climate has clearly changed and with that the event needs to change with it.
“The event has been totally not for profit, with my time, and more recently the time of a few others, being given to set the event up totally free of charge.
“It’s sad to say, but my desire to run the event has all but dried up and I need some time away from thinking about it to allow that passion to rebuild.
“This event has been so superb to host over the years, and really has grown bigger than even my imagination would have let me believe when we hosted the first event on Catbells in 2016.
“I truly love that people travel from all over to be part of it, or to witness it. I also love the fact that the local area will benefit so greatly from the event.”
But, he said after careful consideration, he had decided the next Lakeland Festival of Light event will take place on April 4 2026.
He added: “The event will return as we have some brilliant ideas yet to implement, but it will return in a new format that will hopefully gain the fundraising total it truly deserves. We’ll be back – better and brighter than ever.”
Matt thanked everyone who had supported the event, from marshals to photographers and his family and friends who had been ‘dragged in’ every year to help.
