United's Chad Woollands raises more than £1,500 for Prostate Cancer UK
Oxford United teamed up with their Football League counterparts to raise more than £305,000 this weekend on Prostate Cancer UK’s sold-out football fundraiser – the London to Amsterdam Cycling Challenge.
More than 250 riders – including former international trio Terry Butcher, Matt Holland and Luther Blissett together with Preston North End boss Simon Grayson – cycled 145 miles from Leyton Orient’s Matchroom stadium to the Amsterdam Arena across two days and the total raised continues to rise.
United’s Chad Woollands, Education Administrator and girls elite under-19s coach, saddled up for the third annual ride, and the more than £1,500 he raised adds to the significant contribution the club has made this season from the ride, and from their match day collection.
The money raised will go towards supporting the 300,000 men living with prostate cancer in the UK, and funding ground breaking research to beat a disease which currently affects one in eight men in the UK.
Director of Fundraising at Prostate Cancer UK, Mark Bishop said: “To see our ever-extending football family come together over two never-to-be-forgotten days and raise a phenomenal total is another example of the power of Men United.
“It’s amazing to think that back in 2013 Luther was one of 35 hardy souls taking on the challenge for the first time, so its fair to say its really caught the imagination – and raised a substantial amount of money.
“This year‘s ride was bigger and better than ever. 250 riders representing clubs up and down the land convened for brilliant demonstration of what we call Men United: people joining one team to fight a common opposition – prostate cancer.”
Chad told us: “On the first day we cycled 83 miles and it was reasonably hilly, so that was a tough start but the second day it was totally flat; the whole weekend was brilliant and I’ve already registered my interest to do it again next year, along with another ride for Prostate Cancer UK which follows the first stage of the Tour de France the week before the professionals do it.
“I was doing it for the ride and to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK but it was nice to see Amsterdam as well because I’d never been there before. We had a bit of recovery time after returning home on Sunday, but then I was straight back into work on Monday!”
Fans who missed out on this year’s ride can find out more about the biggest ride in football at prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam.