Director of academy sales Simon Milton is aiming to raise a 50-strong Team Ipswich for next year’s London to Amsterdam cycling challenge. Milton is targeting raising £100,000 to be split equally between Prostate Cancer UK, the Football League’s official charity, and the Blues’ academy.
In June, 150 cyclists representing Football League clubs - 17 from Town including academy coach and former striker Alan Lee - pedalled from Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium to the Amsterdam Arena. Team Ipswich raised more than £20,000 out of an overall total of more than £200,000.
Next year’s ride takes place between June 12th and 14th with each participant required to raise £2,000 in sponsorship.
Milton, pictured below with Lee, McCarthy, John Reader from sponsor GAH and the Blues squad at today's launch, added: "I am sure we all know someone who has been affected by prostate cancer and this was the main reason I decided to join up last year.
"My goal was to take up the challenge again this year but bring an even bigger team from Ipswich and we are already well on the way to doing that.
"Whether or not you are a keen cyclist, the challenge is an excellent way to get some mates together to support an important cause, and I would encourage anyone who is thinking of signing up to get some pals together and do it as a group.
"I look forward to meeting up with all the other teams on the trip as we tackle the 150 miles together from London to Amsterdam. Bring it on!”
Manager Mick McCarthy, a keen cyclist himself, is firmly behind Team Ipswich: "Part of why I’m backing it is because Milts is doing it and it’s an involvement with the club.
"But ultimately because it’s for Prostate Cancer UK. Both my parents died from cancer, breast cancer and bowel cancer, and I think any way to raise money to fight cancer of any kind is a really worthwhile cause.
"And it’s fabulous when they do it as a group and they’re hoping to get 50 this time.
"Great camaraderie, great fun. You get a whole load out of it yourself by training but it’s raising money and raising awareness as much as anything.”
Prostate Cancer UK’s director of fundraising, Mark Bishop, said: "Last season’s ride was incredibly successful as riders of all abilities from clubs up and down the land convened for a memorable few days.
"It was a brilliant demonstration of what we call Men United: people joining the same team to fight a common opposition — prostate cancer.
"It’s brilliant to see Simon and his mates from Ipswich forming an even bigger squad next year and we’d love to see this as a rallying call for other clubs to join and help us raise even more awareness and save men’s lives.
"Money raised will go directly towards fighting this deadly disease and help us stop it killing one man every hour.”
If you want to join Team Ipswich for next summer’s event, email simon.milton@itfc.co.uk, while full details of the event can be found here.