Dear all,
I will be taking part in Cycling 4 Gaza (www.cycling4gaza.com), a worldwide initiative founded by a group of individuals in the wake of last year's war on Gaza, and would really appreciate your support.
Cycling 4 Gaza's vision:
-is to raise awareness about the ongoing suffering in Gaza bringing together a group of people from all over the world each year to cycle across continents. Last year saw the team cycle from London to Paris in just three days.
-is to raise essential funds for reputable and reliable non-profit organisations working in the fields of healthcare and education in Gaza.  2009 saw the team raise over £90,000 for MAP (Medical Aid for Palestinians) for their health projects in Gaza. With your help and support, we are looking to beat this target in 2010. 
The challenge:
This year's journey will see us cycling our way across Italy's hilly countryside over a period of four days (an average of 85km a day), starting from the leaning tower of Pisa, through Tuscany and finally arriving at the Colosseum in Rome.
The dates:
We kick-off on September 29, 2010 from Pisa and finish on October 2, 2010 in Rome
Who we are supporting in 2010:
We will be raising funds to support Welfare Association's (www.welfareassociation.org.uk) work in the fields of early childhood development. The Welfare Association is a British charity established in 1993. It is an international, non-governmental, non-political and non-religious organisation that works with marginalised and vulnerable Palestinian communities, providing health, education, agriculture and emergency services in Gaza, the West Bank and the Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.
The funds raised will be split between three of the Welfare's partner organisations:
     - Gaza Community Mental Health Programme (GCMHP)
     - Atfaluna Society for Deaf Children
     - Kanafani kindergartens
You can read more about these projects by clicking <here>
How you can help:
Please show your support by sponsoring me on this challenge. Every penny counts, no matter how small  and is guaranteed to make a difference to the lives of the children of Gaza.
-£30 can provide shoes, a tracksuit, sweater and backpack for a school child
-£75 can provide psycho-social activities for a child over one year (sports equipment, field trips, play sessions, etc.)
-£100 can provide educational materials for one child for one year (books, educational games, musical instruments, etc.)  
-£400 fully supports one child in a kindergarten with comprehensive educational and psycho-social activities and provides clothing and a nutritious meal for one year.
If you believe that any of your friends and/or family would be interested in supporting Welfare Association's cause then please feel free to forward this page on to them.
Many thanks as always for your invaluable support
Wish me luck!!!!
Nadia

*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 and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate.