I’m taking part in the Big Ride for Palestine this year in support of the Gaza Sunbirds, a cycling team from Gaza whose dream is to compete at the 2024 Paralympics.

The original Gaza Sunbird, Alaa al-Dali, was an Olympic hopeful cyclist when his leg was shot to pieces by an Israeli sniper on Mach 30^th 2018. He was standing alone in his cycling gear, with his bike, as he watched a March of Return demonstration, 25- metres from the separation fence east of Rafah.

“The bullet [was] like a small grenade”, he recalls. “It almost
disintegrated the bone in my leg, 22cm of it. The muscle, arteries and veins were totally damaged. ... I needed to make a choice, either the amputation or  losing my life. After thinking a lot, I gave my consent to cut the leg. It was a very hard decision to make”.

Despite coming close to death, Alaa has made a good recovery and
has channelled his energies into establishing an amputee cycling team within Gaza — the Gaza Sunbirds. Alaa’s dream is to take the whole team to France to take part in the 2024 Paralympics.

Through the support of the local cycling community and linking up with a team based in the UK and Brussels, Alaa has been able to access training, facilities and equipment. The team now has six
registered cyclists with more waiting to start training.

Sport offers the chance of rehabilitation for many of Gaza’s youth who have been physically affected by the impacts of war.

Thank you for supporting this incredible para-cycling team who have the potential to become a symbol of hope for the people of Palestine. 

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