Organisers of a charity music festival held in memory of a woman who died of cancer face having to spend all the money they raised on replacing a stolen generator.
Nearly 1,000 people attended Saturday's Knipfest event, which raised about £8,000 for Cancer Research UK and a hospice where mum-of-three Julie Copley was treated before she died in 2010.
But following the event, held in Knipton, in the Vale of Belvoir, the hired generator was stolen.
Due to an oversight, the organisers – who have raised more than £70,000 through the festival and a series of challenges since Julie died, aged 41 – had not insured it.
They are now looking at having to come up with a replacement which could wipe out the entire proceeds from the event.
Organiser Jon Watchorn, of Sproxton, said: "After so much hard work had been done, it came as a real blow to find it had been stolen.
"We hope the thieves' conscience will be pricked by the fact they have basically stolen charity money by taking the generator.
"It was not insured. We have approached the hire company and they say it will cost £8,000 to replace. We just want to either get the generator back or hope that someone can help the police catch the people who stole it and recover it for us.
"We would even be happy if the thieves just left it to be found somewhere."
Julie's husband, John, 43, and a group of friends have been fund-raising for cancer charities since she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005.
He said: "I'm gutted. It was probably the best Knipfest we've had and everyone enjoyed a cracking night, but it was a real blow when we discovered the generator had gone.
"We're hoping it might still be found and we're checking with scrap dealers.
"I hope the people who stole it don't have to go through the same sort of suffering we have.
"Julie was clear of this horrible disease for nearly five years, but unfortunately it returned in her liver and spine.
"She again had treatment, but lost her battle in 2010. Julie was loved dearly by her friends and family and will always be missed."
As well as organising Knipfest events, John and his friends have ridden from John O'Groats to Land's End, completed the Three Peaks challenge and paddled across Scotland to raise money for the two charities.
John said: "We pay for ourselves to go on the challenges and every penny goes to charity. Whoever took the generator has stolen money directly from charity."
A police spokeswoman said: "We are appealing for witnesses to the theft between 6pm on Sunday and 5pm on Monday. A vehicle would have been needed to tow it away."
Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Paul Anderson on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.
