Brentford’s Mark Burridge pulled on the coveted Men United Orange Jersey when the London to Amsterdam cycle challenge got underway at Leyton Orient FC on Friday morning.
Mark and Karen Manders were at the top of the fundraising table after collecting more than £4,000 for Prostate Cancer UK – The Football League’s long-term Official Charity Partner.
Mark and Derby County’s Sarah Cook were awarded the ‘oranje overhemds’ by former Watford, AC Milan and England striker Luther Blissett at the start of the exciting 150-mile challenge which hopes to raise £150,000 for the charity.
The duo were among more than 150 members of the football family making their way from the Matchroom Stadium to the Netherlands.
Representatives from more than 50 clubs – including Port Vale Manager Micky Adams, former Republic of Ireland international striker Alan Lee and ex-Arsenal star Perry Groves - joined the peloton in East London in the early hours of Friday morning.
Following the overnight boat trip from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, the jersey will pass to the top fundraiser on the opening day of the event and Bees fans can further support Mark, Karen and Prostate Cancer UK by visiting www.justgiving.com/Brentfordfccycleteam.
Head of Events at Prostate Cancer UK, Andy Sallnow said: “Mark’s fundraising efforts ahead of the event have been truly amazing and he was a hugely deserving recipient of the orange jersey.
“The Brentford supporters have also played their part by supporting his amazing efforts and he will deservedly stand out from the crowd on the startline.
“We are really grateful for all of the football league clubs and fans supporting the event with such enthusiasm, though.
"To see more than 150 riders at the startline was a wonderful sight ahead of what’s likely to be a really enjoyable few days as clubs continue to raise money to combat a disease that kills one man every hour in the UK.”
After the Grand Depart from Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium, the riders headed out of London through rural English countryside, and stop off at a second ground, Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium, for refreshments, later in the afternoon.
After completing the 90 mile sojourn to Harwich by dusk, the intrepid team will cross the Channel overnight, before riding a further 60 miles across the flat landscape of Dutch Zeeland.
The climax sees the peloton arrive in the country’s capital and its network of canals, cobbled streets and wonderful architecture.
There will be a chance to wind down and reflect on a notable effort, on Saturday night in the city centre before a less energy-sapping return to London, via Eurostar, after lunch the next day.
Although the deadline for entrants for the 2014 event has passed, to register an interest for next year’s London to Amsterdam cycling challenge go to prostatecanceruk.org/Amsterdam.
Meanwhile, to register for Prostate Cancer UK’s regular football newsletter packed full of all the latest Men United news and features by the finest football writers on the web visit prostatecanceruk.org/football.
If you have concerns about prostate cancer please call Prostate Cancer UK's confidential Helpline on 0800 074 8383 or visit www.prostatecanceruk.org.
The helpline is free to landlines, staffed by specialist nurses, and open from 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday with late opening until 8pm on Wednesdays.