AND they’re off! Former Town hero Marcus Stewart yesterday launched the club’s latest fundraising bike ride.
Some 280 riders hit the road at 12.30pm from outside Yeovil Town’s Huish Park ground.
This year’s 260-mile Pink Link Pedal for Pounds 3 ride will end at the Galpharm Stadium on Saturday, at about 2.15pm, ahead of the last home game of the regular season.
The ride is expected to raise at least £250,000 for the Keep It Up campaign, which splits proceeds between the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the club’s Academy.
Yesterday’s first 40-mile stage to Bath had an early mishap when Andrew Pollard crashed out.
Mr Pollard is thought to have braked too hard and lost his balance just a few miles in.
He was taken to a local hospital with a suspected broken arm and was expected to be collected by a support van last night.
A Town spokesman said: “We wish him all the best. It was a simple accident that could have happened to anyone.”
Other riders spoke of their pride at taking part.
The ride is a family affair for father-of-two Derek Highe, from Mirfield.
Derek, 54, is taking part with twin nephews David and Christopher Highe and niece Rachel Robertson.
Derek, well-known for raising more than £20,000 for charity by lighting up his home in Robin Royd Avenue every Christmas, wanted to test himself.
Derek, who had his left knee replaced four years ago, has been in training for four months, clocking up 1,100 miles.
“I wanted to challenge myself and prove I can take on something as big as this,” Derek said.
Most of the riders travelled down to Yeovil in a four-coach convoy, setting off at 5am yesterday.
Among them was Examiner multi-media desk editor Graham Brown, a Town fan for 51 years.
Graham, 56, of Holmfirth, said the near six-hour road trip had sapped energy before they started.
Graham, who plans to sell some of his old Town programmes to add to his fundraising total, said the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was a “brilliant” cause.
“I don’t think there are many other charities I would go through so much pain for. Nobody knows when you are going to need it.”
Graham said yesterday’s first stage was a gentle introduction but added: “There were three very big hills, and they told us this area was pretty flat!”
Another rider Peter Swallow, 59, from Honley, a veteran of last year’s Brighton Pedal for Pounds ride, was already getting excited about Saturday’s homecoming.
Peter and wife Janet have raised more than £12,000 for the air ambulance cause in recent years, in memory of Janet’s late son Graham who needed an airlift after a motorcycle accident in May 2007.
“I am so proud of the charity and so proud of my club and it helps bond all the supporters.
“I am sure the fans will be lining the streets from Waterloo and it will be an emotional sight seeing almost 300 cyclists in blue and white shirts coming down the road.
“No other football club does anything like this”.
