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'Fantastic start' for Town fans on 310-mile ride

George King
BBC News, Suffolk
ITFC FSF Elijah Aldridge and James Rose wearing helmet and blue jackets with Ipswich Town logos on them sitting on their bikes in front of a Sir Bobby Robson statue. You can only see Sir Bobby Robson's legs. ITFC FSF
Elijah Aldridge and James Rose hopped on their bikes after Ipswich Town's 4-0 loss to Arsenal

Two Ipswich Town fans wasted no time getting out of the country after the club's potentially fate-sealing defeat to Arsenal - as they set-off on a charity cycle ride.

Elijah Aldridge and James Rose left Portman Road as soon as the full-time whistle blew on the Tractor Boys' 4-0 Premier League loss.

They were starting a 310-mile (500-km) ride to Fortuna Düsseldorf's Merkur Spiel-Arena, aiming to get there in time for the German side's match against 1. FC Nürnberg on Saturday.

The week-long journey, for local and German charities, will take them across the Netherlands and down the Rhine River.

ITFC FSF Three Ipswich Town fans on the Portman Road pitch holding up a banner that reads Hunger Doesn't Wear Club Colours. In the background thousands of other fans can be seen celebrating on the pitch in the stadium.ITFC FSF
James Rose (left) and Elijah Aldridge (right) are cycling 310 miles (500km) from Ipswich to Düsseldorf

On Monday morning, they told the BBC they had just crossed the Erasmus Bridge, in Rotterdam, and were on their way to Dordrecht.

"It has been a fantastic start to the trip," said James.

"There were blustery conditions last night and this morning but nothing to dampen our spirits.

"We're now closing in on our first stop in Dordrecht."

ITFC FSF James Rose holding a charity collection bucket standing next to a banner that reads Hunger Doesn't Wear Club Colours and Come On You Blues. He is standing in front of a blue metal fence and buildings can be seen in the background. ITFC FSF
James Rose volunteers for the Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks group

The pair are doing the ride for Families In Need Ipswich (FIND), a fan-led charity which supports people experiencing poverty and despair.

They are also collecting for German foodbank Tafel Düsseldorf and the Ipswich Town Foundation.

The Ipswich Town Fans Supporting Foodbanks group will also get some of the proceeds.

Mr Rose, who volunteers for the foodbanks group, added: "We all know hunger doesn't wear club colours, just as we know hunger isn't exclusive to the UK.

"Over a third of children in Ipswich are living in poverty, with more than a million people below the poverty line across the East of England."

ITFC FSF James Rose and Elijah Aldridge sitting on their bikes in front of the Stadium FeyenoordITFC FSF
James Rose and Elijah Aldridge, seen outside Feyenoord's De Kuip stadium, will end their ride at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Germany

Their target is to raise £5,000, and they have already got more than £3,000.

"The generosity shown has been humbling and these funds will go a long way to helping those in need," said Mr Aldridge.

"However, charity only papers over the cracks and we'll continue pushing for a right to food enshrined in law at home and abroad."

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