Riders complete tough challenge for Prostate Cancer in one day
AFC Wimbledon supporters Rachel Wood and Rob Crane joined a group of football fans in a cycle around London to raise awareness of Prostate Cancer UK.
Led by Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust board member Kevin Fitzgerald, the peloton stopped off at 12 capital-based football clubs in the Premier League and English Football League, completing the ride of approximately 100 miles in less than a day.
Kevin and his team were joined by Rachel at Selhurst Park and Rob at Wimbledon, the pair cycling in with the group to the Cherry Red Records Stadium, where pictures were taken pitch side during a well-earned break.
Setting off from West Ham United’s new London Stadium in Stratford first thing, the group’s challenge around 12 London clubs was to promote Prostate Cancer UK’s Football to Amsterdam 2017 – the charity’s end of season football fundraiser with the EFL.
Kevin Fitzgerald said: “I already had an idea to cycle all around London’s football clubs and then I thought, ‘why not use it to promote the ride to Amsterdam for next year?’ There are so many football fans who cycle, but they do not know about the ride. I didn’t know about it until I noticed former Spurs manager Martin Jol doing a launch to promote the event. We thought it would be a good idea to spread awareness about next year’s event for Prostate Cancer UK. We’ve been well received at all the clubs in London.”
Pedalling around London, the group put football rivalries aside and were greeted by “Buzz Bee” at Griffin Park, home of Brentford, before stopping for a coffee at Fulham’s Craven Cottage, while the small Spurs contingent on the ride went behind enemy lines by touching the hallowed turf of the Emirates Stadium, home of fierce rivals Arsenal.
Queens Park Rangers Director of Football, and former Hoops and England striker Les Ferdinand, a man whose family has been affected by prostate cancer, was on hand to welcome the riders to Loftus Road while the squad went behind the scenes at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge.
Also on the ride were visits to South London quartet Millwall, Charlton Athletic, Crystal Palace and AFC Wimbledon. while Tottenham Hotspur also provided a popular stopping point. White Hart Lane was in fact the penultimate stop before an east to east loop was completed at Leyton Orient FC.
Andy Sallnow, Head of Sport Events at Prostate Cancer UK, was on the ride, and he said: “We’re delighted that Kevin from the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust came up with the concept of uniting these London clubs by riding to each of them in a single day, and organised the ride. We’re also grateful to all of the riders who joined us, and the clubs who engaged and supported Prostate Cancer UK along the way.
“It was quite a feat to circumnavigate the capital for around 100 miles and we’d like to say a special thanks to all of the clubs, who went above and beyond to support the ride. It was a great day with some great people.
The ride was the first in a series of events to promote Football to Amsterdam, a hugely popular cycle challenge, which has raised more than £1 million since 2013. The ride has grown year on year with 2017 set to be the biggest yet.
http://prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdamRegistrations will soon be live and more information can be found at .