Francis' Fundraiser for Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability and the Crèche Orphanage in Bethlehem
Francis Fitzalan Howard is raising money for Action around Bethlehem Children with Disability
Story
My name is Francis Fitzalan Howard and I am in my last year at Edinburgh University. On 25th May I intend to run my fourth Edinburgh Marathon to raise funds to support disabled and traumatized children in Palestine, especially and including Gaza. In 2023 I ran it for Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP).
I want to raise money for a wonderful British charity called ABCD Bethlehem and through them for the Crèche orphanage in Bethlehem, where I was born and spent the first 21 days of my life. In this time of recent conflict in The Holy Land, it is the children who are most vulnerable and they desperately need our support.
I chose these organizations as they bring hope to the most disadvantaged children and ABCD Bethlehem has provided rehabilitative care to children with physical, mental and psychological disabilities since 1985. It has 6 rehabilitation centres within Palestinian refugee camps, and now it has an all-important Gaza project. The Crèche is part of The Hospital of The Holy Family in Bethlehem. It is where I was looked after and cared for in the first weeks of my life and remains close to my heart, particularly now when things are so difficult. I ran my first marathon for them in 2021.
Whatever I am able to raise will be donated to ABCD, who have kindly agreed to divide the total between:
• Their appeal for mobility equipment for children disabled by conflict particularly in Gaza and the West Bank. Over 3,000 children in Gaza have lost limbs and have little or no access to help. ABCD have agreed to work there with the Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City.
• ABCD’s direct support to the wonderful Crèche Orphanage in Bethlehem, providing a safe home and medical care for vulnerable and abandoned children throughout Palestine. It is the only institution in the occupied Palestinian Territories that does this sort of work.
By supporting this page, you are not only providing the Children of Palestine with the support they so desperately need to survive and improve their lives. They are being offered love and hope, and that allows me to show my enormous gratitude to the orphanage which gave me a chance to live a better life - something all these children deserve.
Please support me as I run for the Children of Palestine.