SOUTHEND United chief executive Steve Kavanagh will once against be pounding the pedals from London to Amsterdam, despite recently breaking his ankle, as he raises money for charity.

Kavanagh, 47, is part of the 350-strong team aiming to raise £500,000 for Prostate Cancer UK when he begins his 145 mile journey from the Olympic Stadium in Stratford at 9am tomorrow.

He will ride as part of the Men United team, which also includes former footballers Luther Blissett, Terry Butcher and Viv Anderson, along with Shrimpers supporters Michael Markscheffel (the club’s non-executive director), Gavin Markscheffel, Alex Grocott, Brad Warren, Jarek Mankus, Joe Rutter, Riyan Dublin, Roy Flemming and Simon Bryant.

Kavanagh faces a significant hindrance of a broken ankle, sustained while blocking a shot in a sponsors’ 5-a-side competition six weeks ago.

But he says that will not stop him from completing the challenge, and wants to raise as much money as possible having lost both parents to cancer.

“Ignoring prostate cancer won’t beat it, so I joined the fight by signing up to take on the Football to Amsterdam ride,” said Kavanagh, who has already raised more than £3,500.

“I decided to ride for Prostate Cancer UK because having lost my dad to the disease and then my mum shortly after to breast cancer I knew I had to do what I could to fight cancer. I work in a privileged world that enables us to raise a greater profile and therefore help fight prostate cancer using the power of football.

“I had an avulsion fracture six weeks ago and was on crutches and in a walking boot for over a week. It was supposed to be longer but as time was short I had to really push myself. Two weeks after the fracture I managed to ride 15 miles, which was agony and created all sorts of other complications but if I had lost much more time I would have really struggled.

“That said I have now strained my calf while riding to work, possibly through too much in a short space because of the lost training and also riding in a way that compensates for my ankle ligaments that aren’t really healed.

“I broke it blocking a shot with the ligament ripping off the bone and taking a piece of bone with it. Naturally I played on as I didn’t think it was that bad. I think getting back on the bike two weeks after the injury demonstrates my desire to not let anyone down, even with the calf strain I will make it, just a bit slower than I hoped!”

Kavanagh and the Shrimpers fans will cycle past the home of rivals Colchester United as they finish the first day of the ride in Harwich, with the second day seeing them pass the Amsterdam ArenA, where Dutch giants Ajax play.

To sponsor Kavanagh visit justgiving.com/Stephen-Kavanagh5. For more information on the disease visit prostatecanceruk.org.

Another sporting personality from the area to be taking on the challenge is C&K Basildon Ladies footballer Stacey Little.

The former West Ham United Ladies captain, 28, will also begin her ride at the Olympic Park and is looking to raise as much money as she can for the cancer charity.

“I’m glad I’ve got the opportunity to do this bike ride for a purpose and good cause,” said Little.

To back her challenge visit justgiving.com/Stacey-Little1/.