A FORMER Oxford football player will join a 270-mile bike ride from London to Cologne starting on Monday.

Josias Carbon, who came through the youth system at Oxford United before going on to play for Oxford City and a host of other clubs in the county, will join 64 other riders setting off on the charity cycle.

The ride is raising money for Herbalife Nutrition Foundation, a charity which helps disadvantaged children across the world, but the group's fundraising pot has been ringfenced to support Action For Children in the UK.

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The construction project manager, 35, who lives in Headington, got involved though work as a Herbalife distributor.

He added: "When the 2019 event was announced in Cologne I jumped at the chance to step out of my comfort zone and help a worthy cause with this cycle."

The 65 cyclists will set off on their 270-mile journey from Trafalgar Square, and will travel to Harwich port, Hook of Holland, Eindhoven and then Cologne over four days.

The idea came from a group who cycled to Paris in 2018 for the Herbalife foundation.

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That challenge raised just over £20,000 for charity, but this year's team, including Mr Carbon, are aiming to hit £30,000.

The Oxford fundraiser has already raised more than £500 alone having healthy bake sales and a fundraiser at work.

He added: "I am hoping to raise the awareness of what we are doing as a group, the reason why we are doing it and also to try and increase my contribution to the main fundraising total though my online page."

Go to give.herbalifenutritionfoundation.org/fundraiser/2151282