Hamilton police are asking the public to help them identify a man who allegedly stole a donation box containing $11,000 from a weekend charity bike ride.

The theft took place at Ride to Conquer Cancer's banquet dinner at the Sheraton Hotel on King Street on Saturday. Supporters of the event paid an admission fee, as well as donated to the fundraiser.

The suspect was captured on camera leaving the hotel while carrying the cash box, police say.

The suspect is described as white, 40 to 45 years old with blond and/or grey hair. He was wearing an orange polo shirt over a white T-shirt, dark jeans, brown running shoes, sunglasses and a cellphone on his hip.

The banquet dinner in Hamilton is not an official Ride to Conquer Cancer fundraiser, the charity said. It was a self-organized fundraiser by an individual or a team.

The alleged theft took place during a banquet dinner at the Sheraton Hotel in downtown Hamilton. (Sunnie Huang/CBC)

“As an investigation with local authorities is currently underway, the Ride to Conquer Cancer is not commenting at this time,” the charity's communications team told CBC News.

Now in its 7th year, the annual event draws thousands of participants who complete a two-day, 200-kilometre ride between Toronto and Niagara Falls.

More than 5,000 riders participated in the 2014 fundraiser over the weekend, raising $20 million for The Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation, according to the organizer.

The Sheraton Hotel said it is cooperating with local police and has provided security video clips to police.

“I can say that the facility does not provide security in the meeting and function space, and all personal property left in the meeting and function space is at the full risk of the owner,” Peter Tosh, regional manager of the Sheraton, told CBC Hamilton.

Tosh provided no other details of the incident, citing privacy concerns and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hamilton Police Service, Criminal Investigation Division, Det. Const. James O’Hara or Det. Const. Lauren Troubridge at 905-546-3818. They can also contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).