Geoff Thomas and Co start their ride to Paris
Former Wolves star Geoff Thomas has begun his four-day cycle challenge to Paris with 200 riders.
Joined by Baggies keeper Ben Foster, Wolves club photographer Sam Bagnall, and a clutch of ex-players including Aidy Boothroyd, John Salako and Darren Purse, the group set off at 8am from Greenwich Park, London, yesterday.
The 50-year-old aims to raise £1million for Cure Leukaemia to mark 10 years in remission from the blood cancer.
Today the riders will travel from Calais to Abbeville after completing the ride to Folkstone yesterday.
The London to Paris (L2P) ride will see him cycle 310 miles and is the build-up event before he rides the Tour de France a day before the peloton.
Controversially, he will be joined by drugs cheat Lance Armstrong which has sparked anger in the cycling world. So far, £500,000 has been raised in charity donations.
And Thomas has vowed to wear an Albion shirt for one day of the challenge if Ben Foster can raise £50,000 – although the keeper is some way short of his target.
They plan to ride up to 80 miles a day for four days before arriving in the French capital at around 4pm on Sunday.
Thomas said: "The fact we have raised £500,000 through L2P and Le Tour, before either has begun, is terrific news.
"Some of the L2P and Le Tour cyclists have gone beyond the call of duty with their fundraising. They've kept pushing on, even after reaching their targets.
"I personally know where the money is going, and the brilliant team of professors, doctors and nurses it will be supporting to help save more lives.
"They're very grateful for the riders' efforts and will be able to do some amazing things with these funds."
Foster, who is recovering from a knee injury, added: "The weather forecast is good and the enthusiasm in the case is booming.
"It is great rehabilitation for me and goes hand in hand with that. It's a pleasure for me to take part but I do benefit from it.
"The only training I can do is on a bike, so it makes a nice change getting out from the gym as well as a chance to meet nice new people.
"I'm seeing a few things on the way and raising a lot of money for a very worthy cause."
Disgraced Armstrong, 43, was stripped of seven Tour de France titles in 2012 by anti-doping agency USADA.
He's scheduled to join his fellow cancer survivor and a team of 12 other cyclists for two legs as they tackle this summer's race route.
It's yet to be announced where Armstrong will join Thomas on the route. The Grand Depart takes place in the Dutch town of Utrecht next month.
Thomas embarked on the London to Paris leg of the trip, accompanied by around 230 amateur cyclists who have all chipped in a minimum of £1,500 for charity.
For the second stage of the challenge, the pair will be joined by 10 other riders, all of whom have pledged a minimum of £50,000 to be involved.
Ten years ago Geoff was given three months to live after being diagnosed with leukaemia. However, he survived after treatment at the Centre for Clinical Haematology in Birmingham.
