Dear Friend,

On August 1^st  I will set off  to cycle from Edinburgh to London- almost 500 miles- to raise money for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA).  MECA  is a longstanding  US based charity which works in Palestine, Lebanon, Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries, with refugees and those displaced by war. They provide clean drinking water, medical aid, scholarships and psycho-social support to children and their families.  Check out their website  www.mecaforpeace.org

I have spent my professional career in development and peace building, working on resettlement and displacement, in conflict affected countries, and I have seen what donations can accomplish.  I think MECA does good work.  

Last year, during Israel’s 51-day attack on Gaza in July and August 2014, more than 500 children were killed, more than 500,000 people were displaced at the height of the attacks by Israel, and hundreds of thousands of people had no access to water or electricity. Thanks to MECA’s   team on the ground in Gaza and supporters around the world, they were able to quickly raise funds and provide medicine and medical treatment, psychological support, food, milk, hygiene kits, and clean, safe drinking water.

Palestinians describe their country as a big and dangerous prison, bombarded, constrained, hemmed in, reduced by Israel.   I’ll be riding my bike without fear or threat, through Britain.  Instead of a birthday present for me, please consider a donation to MECA.  Hopefully together we can raise more than £1,000.

Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity. So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

Many thanks, and see you at my birthday party!  Jennifer