A popular biking event and major fundraiser won’t happen this year.

The Whidbey General Hospital Foundation recently canceled the Tour de Whidbey, an autumn event that showcased Whidbey Island while raising considerable cash for Whidbey’s public hospital.

Laura Blankenship, foundation executive director, said recent staff reductions made at the foundation left her without enough help to organize the event and not enough time to find alternatives.

The Tour de Whidbey, originally scheduled for Sept. 22, offers a variety of routes and attracted more than 500 riders in 2011, requiring 100 volunteers to support the event.

Last year, the foundation granted more than $234,000 to the hospital. Blankenship said the foundation’s goal is to grant more than $250,000.

Even though the Tour de Whidbey has been cancelled, it will likely be back. She said the next Tour de Whidbey will take place Sept. 21, 2013.