Football fans from St Albans raised more than £63,000 for charity by cycling from the UK to Amsterdam.
The ride, which was in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, took place from Friday, June 1 to Sunday, June 3, with 44 people from St Albans Football Club taking part out of a total of 400 riders.
Since the club got involved with the cycle ride three years ago, it has raised more than £100,000 for the charity. This year, club co-owner Lawrence Levy and members Phill Coates and Mark Hackett each received one of the five coveted orange jerseys for fundraising, with Mark alone raising nearly £7,000.
Lawrence said: “I am really pleased and really proud that we have been able to galvanise a committee and have so many people want to cycle and raise a phenomenal amount of money for Prostate Cancer UK.
“The charity has a relationship with the football league. I am really proud that this football club yet again has been able to support a very important charity that affects many men.”
The ride started out in 2013 with only 35 riders, and has raised more than £1.7 million for the charity since its conception.
Phill Coates was inspired to take part in the ride after having surgery for prostate cancer. He said: “Ignoring prostate cancer won’t beat it, so I joined the fight by signing up to take on the Football to Amsterdam ride.
“I decided to ride for Prostate Cancer UK to raise awareness of the disease and raise money for research and also the great work that the charity’s specialist nurses do.”
All money raised goes towards clinic research and creating more awareness for me to get checked out.
Andy Sallnow, head of sport events at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re delighted that St Albans has decided to join the fight against prostate cancer and ride to raise vital funds for prostate cancer UK once again. “One man dies every 45 minutes from prostate cancer; that’s two during a game of football, which really hammers home how serious the issue is. By pedalling all of those miles in June, the riders are joining the fight against prostate cancer and raising awareness of the disease.
“Football to Amsterdam really is the biggest ride in football. The money will fund radical improvements in diagnosis, treatment, prevention and support.”
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