Academy sponsorship manager Simon Milton, Alan Lee and the rest of Team ITFC have been continuing their training ahead of next month’s London to Amsterdam Challenge, the charity cycle trip raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and the Academy Association.
Milton is leading a team of 18 on the ride, which is being organised by Prostate Cancer UK, who are the Football League’s official charity partner. Also making the trip will be Watford legend Luther Blissett, along with a representative of every Football League club.
The former Blues midfielder says Team ITFC are aiming to raise a five-figure sum for the Academy Association on top of the total already achieved for Prostate Cancer UK.
"We’ve filled our target for Prostate Cancer UK. As the team leader I had to raise £1,200 for Prostate Cancer UK and everybody else had to raise a minimum of £1,000,” he said.
"Because people have gone over the £1,000 limit, we’re looking at raising £20,000 for Prostate Cancer UK and we would like to raise £10,000 for the Academy.
"We’re doing 150 miles. There are about 160 people in total and there are 18 of us from Team ITFC.
"We’ll do 90 miles on Friday 6th June starting at Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium, setting off at 7am.
"We’ll cycle out of London, up through Essex and one of our stops on the way is at Colchester’s Weston Homes Community Stadium. Then we go across to Harwich. That’s 90 miles on day one.
"We then take the ferry across to the Hook of Holland and that arrives at 7am. We’ll come off the ferry and we’ll do 60 miles and finish in the Amsterdam Arena. It’s 150 miles over two days.
"Then all 160 people will have a celebratory dinner and stay in a hotel on the Saturday night before coming back on the Sunday via the Eurostar. I’m also hoping we can meet up with some special ITFC guests in Amsterdam.”
He says in addition to himself and striker and academy coach Lee there are other members of the club’s staff involved: "We’ve got some really good people coming and we’re going to have a really good time. It’s going to be a good challenge.
"As well as Alan Lee and me, there are three people who work at the club, James Hacker from the ticket office, Carl Collins, the head chef, and Neilos Hawes, the marketing manager.
"I will be tweeting, so people can follow and see where we are and how we’re doing. I will be tweeting pictures all the time, so keep an eye on my Twitter account, which is also now on the http://www.itfcacademy.com>Academy Association website.”
Milton and the other members of Team ITFC have — or should have — covered significant distances as they prepared for the trip: "The longest ride I’ve done so far is 63 miles and at the Bank Holiday weekend I’m going to do something like 150 miles over the three days.
"It’s been quite a commitment, but I want to enjoy it. I’ve now got so into it I’ve gone out and bought myself a decent bike and from now on I can see myself cycling all the time. I’ve really, really enjoyed it.
"All 18 are doing the same, or should be. I keep emailing them saying ‘are you doing all the training?’ and they keep saying yes. I’m not sure whether everyone’s doing as much as they should but we’ll find out on the day.
"The ones that skip along for 90 miles and get off the bike feeling fine will be OK, for the ones who maybe haven’t done everything that they needed to do it might be a little bit different!”
He says local businesses and academy sponsors have played their part ahead of the ride: "I asked Elmy Cycles to be our official cycle partner, which meant anyone who signed up for the challenge and needed help or advice about their bike went to them.
"Elmy’s also gave me a fantastic Orbea bike to do my training on and I sold that to raise more money for the campaign at the End of Season Dinner.
"It was bought by an academy sponsor, Phil Davis, from the EUF Group in Felixstowe. As well as giving us the bike Elmy’s have helped us raise money as well.”
Milton and Lee will be continuing their fundraising efforts at the Suffolk Show on Wednesday 28th and Thursday 29th May between 10.30am — 11.30am and 14.30pm — 15.30pm on both days. The Town stand is number 658, which will be situated on Flower Show Avenue.
"We’ll be meeting people and we’re asking for sponsorship,” he added. "Sponsor us a fiver and you’ll get a raffle ticket and there are seven prizes - boots used and signed by Tommy Smith, Luke Hyam, Frank Nouble and Connor Wickham, and Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Alex Henshall and Anthony Wordsworth’s team-signed and match-prepared shirts.”
Milton says the trip could become a regular event with Prostate Cancer UK pleased with the increase in numbers taking part this year.
"This is the second year that Prostate Cancer UK have run it. They had about 45 last year and this year they’re well pleased with the uptake.
"If it goes well it could become an annual thing and Ipswich Town’s team could get bigger and bigger."
To sponsor a member of Team ITFC visit the Academy Association website, pick their name from the dropdown box and donate.