A group of children from Bridport and the surrounding villages will attempt to cycle 41km, which is the length of the Gaza Strip, to raise vital money for Save the Children’s Gaza Emergency Response.

The children will together complete 102.5 laps of the Weir Playing Field in Nettlecombe. Each lap is 400m long and so this may require as many as 10 laps from some of the older children, where the youngest will aim to make it half way round. We expect the total 41km/ 41,000m distance to take as long as 4 hours for the group to complete. It’s no small undertaking as the children attempt to raise as much money as possible for this urgent and essential cause.

The sponsored bike ride will be taking place on Sunday 12th October at 11am. All are welcome to come along and support the children.

There will be Palestinian cakes and savory bites for sale at the event, as well as a bring-and-buy stall for children's toys and clothes, all for donations. We're also running a raffle with lots of amazing prizes generously donated so far, including a stay at Eggardon Hideaways Glamping site! Raffle tickets will be for sale on the day.

We’re encouraging all supporters to please bring noise-making things (whistles, tambourines, pots and pans, etc!) to cheer the children on with. While the situation for Palestinians is heartbreaking, the tone of this event is intended to be one of hope and solidarity and positivity. We fully respect the fact that all parents will want to speak to their children in different ways - or not speak to their children at all - about the situation in the Gaza Strip.

This fundraising is an attempt to get vital help to families living in desperate situations. Aid must reach children. Please sponsor this cycle.

Please give what you can and we’d so appreciate donations of any size:

£1 per lap = £102.5

£1 per km in length of the Gaza Strip = £41

£1 per hour this cycle is expected to take = £4

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN GAZA, ACCORDING TO SAVE THE CHILDREN

The suffering being inflicted on children in Gaza is unfathomable. In over 21 months of conflict, over 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza. Many more perished from hunger and disease.

What we are witnessing is consistent with UN findings that a genocide is being committed in Gaza.

In 2024, the occupied Palestinian territory, specifically Gaza, became the deadliest place on earth to be a child.

During the first year of the war, life expectancy in Gaza dropped by nearly 35 years. It is now just 40.6 years old. In 2023, it was 75.5 years old.

Gaza is now officially in famine. Children are dying because of starvation and malnutrition. Famine means a population faces extreme food shortages, acute malnutrition, and death. In Gaza, over 100 children have already died from starvation.

Our health clinics report children too weak to cry, and in our child-friendly spaces, more and more children are expressing a wish to die. One child told us: “I wish I was in heaven where my mother is. In heaven there is love, there is food, there is water.”

We refuse to allow this suffering to be normalised. The siege must end. Aid must flow freely. Children must be protected.

THE EVENT

There’s still time for your child to get involved! Please get in touch if you have a child that would like to contribute to the total 41,000m / 102.5 laps required.

Please bear in mind this is a small ‘unofficial’ event and all parents will remain responsible throughout for their own children's safety and happiness. Parents will be bringing all water and snacks for all participating children.

All children will be wearing helmets while riding their bikes.

There will be a presentation of certificates to all children who take part.

DATE: Sunday 12th October

TIME: 11am onwards (we expect to finish at around 3pm)

LOCATION: The Weir Sports Field, Nettlecombe, Bridport DT6 3SP

We’d encourage car-sharing wherever possible. There’s limited parking at the field and the gateway can get muddy.

PLEASE SPONSOR US.