Six Oxford fans set for an unforgettable challenge
This Friday will see 350 riders from all across the Football League set off for Amsterdam on the annual cycle ride to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
Oxford United will be well represented by a team of
• James May
• Niall Pritchard
• Mark Williams
• Michael Witney
• Stephen Wren
• Garry Bennett
From Friday 3 June 2016 the U’s’ fans will be pounding the pedals from the Olympic Stadium to Amsterdam to support the leading men’s health charity against a disease that kills one man every hour.
It’s the fourth year of the event and this year there are now not one but three Grand Departs. One group of riders will roll out of London from a new starting point at the iconic Olympic Park’s Velodrome, while two further groups will kick off at Barnsley FC’s Oakwell Stadium and at Portman Road, home of Ipswich Town FC.
And Men United’s Three Lions, Luther Blissett, Terry Butcher and Viv Anderson will start from London, Ipswich and Barnsley respectively a week before England take on the cream of the continent in Euro 2016.
The £500,000 target will help ‘shift the science’ and crack the three core issues of diagnosis, treatment and prevention which have been left unsolved for too long. It will also help provide support and information to those affected by the disease.
From the initial event in 2013 with a small group of 35 riders, to a total fundraising tally which will smash through the £1m mark this year thanks to a biggest ever peloton; the football-themed cycling challenge has proved a phenomenal success throughout its four years.
James Beeby, Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We’re delighted that Oxford United have decided to join the fight against prostate cancer and ride to raise vital funds for Prostate Cancer UK.
“Ignoring prostate cancer will not beat it, and the money raised by our fantastic riders will fund ground-breaking research to help fight the disease. That will help us provide dedicated support and information to men and their families affected by this disease.
“Our amazing cast of riders from across the UK show a brilliant demonstration of what we call Men United: people joining one team to fight a common opposition – prostate cancer.
“One man every hour dies from prostate cancer; it’s the most common cancer in men, but we want to make prostate cancer a disease that the next generation of men do not fear. We Oxford United for joining the fight and wish them every success in the event.”
People are urged to search Men United and join the fight, and use #F2A to share stories and updates online.