Academy sponsorship manager Simon Milton, striker and coach Alan Lee and the rest of Team ITFC take part in their charity London to Amsterdam Cycle Challenge this weekend, 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 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. That’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 that in addition to himself and 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 Academy Association website.”
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 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.
Photo/Clip: ITFC