“We'll hit the £1m target very soon.”

That was the pledge from organisers of Huddersfield Town’s Keep It Up campaign on the eve of a new season.

The campaign is a joint initiative between Town and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Money raised is split between the Huddersfield Town Academy and the air ambulance.

Funds generated since the campaign’s inception in 2009 have now reached £964,000.

And there are high hopes the initial £1m target will be smashed – as another Walk for Pounds is planned early in the season.

Town supporter partnerships manager Robyn Deegan, who has overseen the planning and running of many Keep It Up events, thanked all the people who have helped achieve the total.

“It wouldn’t have been possible for us to put on the large scale events that we have, without the help of the club’s generous fans, sponsors and partners,” she said. “We are indebted to them for all their support over the years.

“Our goal is still to raise £1m and we are confident that we will smash the target next season.”

The first fundraising event for the Keep It Up campaign was a 22-strong cycle ride from Huddersfield to Southend, to coincide with a Town game.

Chairman Dean Hoyle, club ambassador Andy Booth and commercial director Sean Jarvis, helped form the team and have been mainstays in the following three rides.

In the four years since the first ride, there have been a further three Pedal for Pounds events, two Walk for Pounds events, three Christmas celebrations, various recycling schemes and more than 100 individual fund-raising campaigns, which have all contributed to the amazing total.

Last season’s 240-mile bike ride – P4P4 – raised a staggering £190,000, with over a £½m raised in total during the 2012/13 season.

The £964,000 raised so far goes towards equipment, coaching costs and general running fees for Town’s Academy; while Yorkshire Air Ambulance uses its share of the cash for running costs and maintaining the charity’s two life-saving helicopters.

To donate to the Keep It Up campaign please visit www.justgiving.com/keepitupcampaign