Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy has revealed his personal reasons for backing the club’s push to raise £50,000 for Prostate Cancer UK through the London to Amsterdam cycling challenge next summer.

Earlier this year 150 hardy souls representing football clubs across the length and breadth of the country pedalled from Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium to the Amsterdam Arena, home of Dutch side Ajax.

Of that peloton, 17 represented Ipswich, including former players turned club employees Simon Milton and Alan Lee, that group raising around £20,000 of the overall total of more than £200,000.

Next year, the plan is even more ambitious. Milton aims to bring together an Ipswich team of 50 for the two-day ride with the goal to raise £100,000 – half of which will go to Prostate Cancer UK, the other half going to the football club’s academy.

McCarthy, a keen cyclist, is unable to take part in the challenge himself due to family commitments.

However, he will be doing everything he can to raise both money and awareness for very personal reasons.

“Both my parents died from cancer – my mother from breast cancer at the age of 53 and my father from bowel cancer at the age of 71,” the 55-year-old revealed.

“Any way to raise money to fight cancer is a really worthwhile cause, so I hope people sign up for the ride and donate. It’s about raising awareness too. It’s not an easy thing to do, get tested. Nobody wants to hear ‘I’m sorry, but you or one of your family has got the Big C’.

“But of course the earlier you get tested the better it is. If you have got it then it’s not going to go away, it’s just going to get worse, so you’re better off finding it as early as you can and getting it treated.

“I go and get my checks done. When you have parents who died of cancer you are a greater risk. And I tell you what, when you get the good news you can then have a beer to celebrate – whatever sort of week you’re having.”

The London-Amsterdam cycle challenge will take place between June 12-14 next year and is open to riders of all abilities.

To register your interest, log on to: prostatecanceruk.org/amsterdam.