Hamzah and I plan to cycle for 100 km on Saturday 15th August in aid of the people affected by the recent horrific explosion in Beirut. Following increasingly complex and real conversations I’ve been having with my 9 year old son Hamzah, on our increasingly longer bike rides during this pandemic, we both agreed it is the right time to try and conquer a century (100 km) together to help raise funds and awareness.

On August 4th, an enormous explosion obliterated the port of Beirut, the capital city of Lebanon. It is reported that at least 135 people have been killed, over 5,000 people are injured and 300,000 people left homeless. These numbers are likely to continue to rise. The devastation to the city and to the people cannot be understated. The eastern part of Beirut’s port has been totally destroyed, and buildings across the city have been severely damaged. This is a scary situation. Hospitals have been heavily damaged, and they are overwhelmed with the number of people now needing medical help and they are unable to treat everyone. Some have had to be treated in the streets and many sent to hospitals outside Beirut. The British Red Cross is working closely with the Lebanese Red Cross who have been responding to the crisis. The immediate focus is on saving lives.