The Football League | Official Charity | Help the Hospices | News

At 6am this morning, 35 Football League fans began the trip of a lifetime as The Football League 'Arch to Arc' cycle challenge left Wembley Stadium bound for Paris.

Organised to raise funds and awareness for Help the Hospices - The Football League's Official Charity Partner for the 2012/13 Season - the 244-mile marathon will arrive at the iconic Arc de Triomphe on Saturday.

Comprising supporters of 14 different League clubs, the route winds from Wembley Stadium to the French capital via Portsmouth, Caen and Bernay and allows the participants a free day on Sunday to explore Paris having completed the gruelling course.

"We are hugely grateful to all the riders who are taking on this iconic challenge," said Katy Sprake, fundraising events manager for Help the Hospices.

"We hope the event will raise more than £50,000 for Help the Hospices. This money will help hospices to keep caring for 360,000 people each year, including patients and their friends and families. That's enough to fill Wembley Stadium four times over!"

The following clubs will be represented on the trip:

Blackpool, Cardiff City, Colchester United, Derby County, Doncaster Rovers, Hartlepool United, Nottingham Forest, Notts County, Oxford United, Rotherham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Stevenage, Watford, Wycombe Wanderers.

Included on the trip are Nottingham Forest Chief Executive Mark Arthur and former Bury, Rochdale and Halifax Town defender John Bramhall, now Deputy Chief Executive of the PFA.

Andy Dodd, Marketing Manager at The Football League, who is also taking part, said: "The Football League Arch to Arc bike ride is a fantastic demonstration of support by Football League fans to this fantastic cause."

The participants of the challenge are:

Will Hart (Birmingham City)

Greg Douglas (Blackpool) - http://www.justgiving.com/douglasgreg

Leanne Douglas (Blackpool) - http://www.justgiving.com/douglasleanne

David Greaves (Blackpool) - http://www.justgiving.com/David-Greaves1

Daniel Whiteside (Blackpool) - http://www.justgiving.com/DanielWhiteside

John Woodman (Blackpool) - http://www.justgiving.com/John-Woodman

Andy Lindley (Sheffield Wednesday) - http://www.justgiving.com/AndyLindley

Gareth Powell (Oxford United) - http://www.justgiving.com/Gareth-Powell1

Louise Brookes (Colchester United) - http://www.justgiving.com/Louise-Brookes2012

Nicholas Brown

Jack Murray (Derby County) - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-web/fundraiser/showFundraiserPage.action?userUrl=jm_arch_2_arc_2012&faId=174629&isTeam=false

Graham Holt (Doncaster Rovers ) - http://www.justgiving.com/Graham-Holt