This summer, The Big Ride for Palestine is cycling across cities in the UK to raise funds for the Gaza Sunbirds—Palestine’s first and only paracycling team. The Big Ride is a movement of people combining cycling and solidarity to raise awareness of the Palestinian struggle for justice. This year, the Big Ride is proud to support the Sunbirds, athletes who ride with purpose.

The Gaza Sunbirds were founded in Gaza by Alaa al-Dali, a professional cyclist who had his leg amputated after being shot by Israeli forces while peacefully protesting in 2018. Rather than give up, Alaa re-learned how to ride a bike and built something bigger: a paracycling team made up of survivors of Israeli attacks.

Despite siege, displacement, and the destruction of the community they trained in, the Sunbirds kept riding. They trained under bombardment for as long as they could. Today, only the athletes abroad continue to train and compete. Namely, two athletes, Alaa and longtime teammate Mohammed Abu Asfour now represent Team Palestine as they are Palestine’s top two paracyclists, carrying the flag for the entire country.

At the same time, their teammates in Gaza are doing everything they can from the ground. They pivoted to life saving aid and organising events for their community. So far the team has distributed more than $480,000 worth of life-saving support. Every donation raised through The Big Ride helps support both missions: training abroad, and survival at home.

After a historic return to the UCI Paracycling World Cup in 2025, Alaa and Asfour are now preparing for the upcoming 2025 World Championships in Belgium. They are racing towards their ultimate dream: to keep Palestine visible on the world stage and to one day qualify for the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

🌟 Your support helps fund:

-Cycling based rehabilitation for people with disabilities

-Emergency relief and aid distribution

-Equipment and adaptive gear

-Future opportunities for athletes in Gaza to represent Palestine on the world stage.

By joining The Big Ride or making a donation, you become part of their journey. Thank you for fuelling their fight to represent Palestine and stand strong—whether racing abroad or delivering aid at home.

For updates on the team: Follow @gazasunbirds on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn

https://gazasunbirds.org/

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