Story
Big ride for Palestine. Lily and Jocelyn, activists in Merton friends of Palestine are cycling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, an end to the occupation and return of Palestinian land. We want the war to end in Gaza. We want to see a Free Palestine. We support and fundraise for the inspirational Gaza Sunbirds. The Sunbirds were founded in 2019, after original Sunbird Alaa Al-Dali was shot in the knee by an Isreali sniper and left with an amputation. The Sunbirds team now comprises of 20 para-athletes, who have been training with the hope of representing Palestine in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Shortly after the Israeli airstrikes on Gaza began in October following the Hamas attack on October 7th, the Gaza Sunbirds began to distribute vital aid to their communities, both on their bikes, on foot and using any available vehicles. The situation in Gaza is deeply desperate, with over 1.1 million people displaced. Despite these challenging circumstances, and thanks to donations, the Sunbirds have been able to distribute essential food, baby packages (clothes, diapers, formula etc.), blankets, duvets and hot meals to communities that desperately need them.