In 2007, I travelled to the Occupied Palestinian Territories and saw first hand the appalling humanitarian situation there. Since then, the situation has got far worse. 

• There is a shortage of 230 schools in Gaza, due to the ban on construction materials. 85% of schools in the Gaza Strip run on half-day double shifts. 
• More than 50% of children in Gaza needed mental health intervention in 2010 according to Medecins Sans Frontieres 
• The prognosis for the future is bleak. A UN report released last month stated that Gaza will not be a liveable by 2020 with the Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator stating "an urban area cannot survive without being connected"

A humanitarian catastrophe on an enormous scale is only being contained because of the illegal tunnel economy, the persistence of Gaza’s residents and, crucially, external funding. Cycling4Gaza has been raising money to support Gaza since 2008. I know the people behind this charity - I know that their determination to improve the lives of Palestinians is coupled with a conviction that the money raised must be spent effectively. 

This October, I will be part of a 350km cycle challenge across Turkey to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), a UK-registered charity that has been working to support Palestinian communities in the West Bank, Gaza and Lebanon for over 20 years. All costs of the cycle will be covered by myself. Every penny you give goes directly to Medical Aid for Palestinians. As the blockade on the Gaza Strip continues to have severe effects on Gaza's healthcare, Cycling4Gaza has chosen to support 2 crucial health projects in the region through MAP. Full details on the projects we will fundraise for are available here.