GIMME SHELTER has been cancelled this year.

The fundraiser was launched five years ago to help St Patrick’s community centre in Fremantle provide services for homeless people. So far it has raised almost $200,000.

Founder Dave Johnson said it would not run this year because of personal circumstances.

“[By not running this year] it’ll have an impact because the services down at St Pat’s are always stretched because there’s always a really big demand for services,” he said.

Mr Johnson said it was important to help the community and St Pat’s in order to break the cycle of homelessness.

“I found [St Pat’s] a really important place for Fremantle and that inspired me to get Gimme Shelter together,” he said.

The veteran muso also runs the Starlight Hotel Choir, whose members are predominantly homeless.

Starlight member Harmony uses St Pat’s every day. “What St Pat’s gives is a reminder that we all have worth and that someone does care,” she said.

Mr Johnson says Gimme Shelter will be back next year.

by TONI-MAREE OLTON