The Big Ride for Palestine is an initiative by supporters of the Palestinian people, which combines a love of cycling with solidarity and awareness raising.

The Big Ride is an act of solidarity that shows the Palestinian people that they have not been forgotten, and that there are people all around the world – Muslims, Jews, Christians, and people of other faiths or no faith – who are prepared to stand up for them and their rights.

Over the five years since our first Big Ride in 2015, we are immensely proud to have raised over £170,000 for the Middle Children's Alliance (MECA). The money funds sports programmes for children in Gaza, where trauma is common as a result of the military occupation and regular brutal military assaults. Gaza is one of the most densely populated places in the world and there are few places for children to play. Studies show that physical activity reduces mental health problems. The sports programmes are particularly vital for girls who rarely have he chance to learn and practice sports, and since 2017, at MECA's request, we have focused on a specific initiative, Sport for Girls in Gaza.

Dr Mona El-Farra, the Director of MECA in Gaza and a Vice president of the Red Crescent, has ridden and spoken at 4 of the 5 annual Big ides for Palestine. Through these direct links with Dr Mona, we have been able to respond to MECA's priorities. We will again be raising money for the humanitarian work of MECA this year, and Dr Mona has asked us to support the construction of a secure playground for Khuza'a Village in Gaza. It is a village near the military perimeter fence and it has been through many tough times with Israeli assaults. MECA have implemented some activities for girls there including a leadership summer camp. with the construction of the secure playground, MECA would be able to organise girls' sports and cycling activities n the village. It is a big project and there is a group in the US that have also decided to fundraise for this project along with The Big Ride for Palestine.