Fans, players and club officials from across The Football League will take to the saddle for a unique two day Total Football themed, 155 mile challenge from London to Amsterdam, for the 250,000 men living with prostate cancer across the UK.
The ride will see fans pedal from capital to capital, raising money for prostate cancer. Kicking off on Friday 14 June, the route will pass through the picturesque countryside of rural England, before crossing The Channel at Harwich and onto the flat landscape of Dutch Zeeland. The sight of Amsterdam with its network of canals, cobbled streets and wonderful architecture on Saturday will mark the end of a fantastic ride and the start of the Total Football celebrations.
Former England, Watford and AC Milan Striker, Luther Blissett, who has already signed up for the London to Amsterdam ride as part of Prostate Cancer UK’s team, said: “I am thrilled to be taking on the London to Amsterdam ride in support of Prostate Cancer UK and its Official Charity Partnership with The Football League. It will be a great experience as fans from across The League will join forces on their bikes to raise thousands of pounds to help the charity support the 250,000 UK men living with prostate cancer – that’s enough to fill Wembley Stadium three times over.
“Rivalry between clubs can be fierce, and although this isn’t meant to be a race, I am sure there’ll be a sprint to reach the finish line, but we’ll definitely be all on the same team when it comes to raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer.”
Adding his support to the Total Football cycle, England goalkeeping legend, Ray Clemence said: “I’m supporting The Football League’s Official Charity Partner, Prostate Cancer UK, to make sure that everyone connected to football – the players, the fans, the staff and the managers – knows about prostate cancer. We all, that’s men I mean, need to know we are more at risk when we hit 50, if we have a father, brother or uncle who has had the disease and if we are African Caribbean.
“I was first diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2005 after a conversation with the England physio, and following successful treatment everything was fine. Unfortunately at a check-up in November 2012, I discovered that the cancer had returned and I am now undergoing a six-treatment course of chemotherapy, but I remain very positive of the outcome.
“The end of season cycle will see football fans team up with their footballing heroes for a truly unique experience and is not to be missed. Not only will it be a fantastic adventure, the event will help raise vital funds for prostate cancer, the most common cancer in men, and, by 2030, is predicted to be become the most common cancer overall.”
Mark Bishop, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, added: “We’re calling on football fans up and down the country to sign up for this truly memorable cycle challenge from Wembley to Amsterdam, the home of Total Football, and raise money to fund vital support services for those affected by prostate cancer and invest in research into the disease.
“Our official partnership with The Football League has allowed Prostate Cancer UK to reach more men through their love of the beautiful game and help raise awareness of the disease, which claims the lives of more than 10,000 men every year in the UK.
“By taking on the ride, participants will be doing their bit to improve this statistic, while having plenty of football-fuelled fun along the way.”
Prostate cancer affects hundreds of thousands of people across the UK every single day and I’m proud that the London-Amsterdam cycling challenge will unite clubs and supporters alike to help save men’s lives. I would encourage fans to get involved with fundraising by signing up to the challenge today to show their support and help fight this disease.”
Fans can find more details and sign up at prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam to represent the club for the London-Amsterdam cycling challenge.
Prostate Cancer UK asks cyclists to raise a minimum of £1,000. The registration fee is £149. Spaces are limited to 20 places per club.