This May, I am cycling up the well-known Mount Ventoux, 'the beast of Provence', because the suffering of the children and their families in Gaza is too terrible to witness on a daily basis.

A 20.8km bike ride up a mountain of 1594 vertical metres might sound quite mad at my age of 82. But I am no stranger to cycling up mountains and am very lucky to be blessed by good health and strength; I would rather use my time this way than wringing my hands in despair and anguish.

Over 11,000 Palestinian children killed is eleven thousand too many, just as each Israeli killed is one too many. I protest as I can at this slaughter in full view of the world, so I am undertaking this challenge to raise funds towards some kind of physical healing of the wounds, and the emotional trauma.

So, I am pleased to undertake this for Amos Trust, raising funds for their partners in Gaza, supporting Al Ahli hospital, a youth trauma centre and Gaza Sunbirds, a Paracycling team based on the strip, who are now distributing aid to their communities on bikes.

I am very grateful for the support from Chris Rose and Megan Williams, and I know the money raised (£100 for every year of my life) will go to the right places.

For more information about Amos Trust's emergency appeal for Gaza, please visit: https://www.amostrust.org/give/emergency-appeal-for-gaza/

Gaza Sunbirds: https://www.amostrust.org/palestine-justice/gaza/gaza-sunbirds/

NECC vocational and youth training centre: https://www.amostrust.org/palestine-justice/partners/necc-gaza/

Al Ahli Hospital: https://www.amostrust.org/palestine-justice/partners/al-ahli-hospital/

More information about the climb: https://franceoutdoors.com/mont-ventoux-climb-profile/