We’re a team of para-cyclists from the Gaza Strip — and we’re getting ready to represent Palestine at the 2025 UCI Para-Cycling World Cup and World Championships in Europe. With your support, we’ll fly the Palestinian flag high on the world stage — and show that even under siege, we can soar.

Our story began under the rubble of war. Gaza has endured five major Israeli assaults since 2008 and a brutal blockade since 2007, leaving over 2 million Palestinians trapped in just 365 km². Among us are more than 3,000 amputees — one of the highest rates in the world — yet few opportunities to rebuild our lives.

But we refuse to be defined by what we have lost.

After losing his leg to an Israeli sniper while protesting peacefully in 2018, our co-founder Alaa al-Dali, chose resistance through resilience. He turned his dream of international competition into a shared mission — building a para-cycling team of survivors. We became the Gaza Sunbirds, a team of 20 athletes using sport to reclaim our stories and empower others through movement, strength, and solidarity.

This past year, Alaa made history. He became the first Palestinian ever to compete in the UCI Road & Para-Cycling World Championships, after being evacuated from Gaza to Europe. Alongside teammate Mohammed Abu Asfour, he now trains in Belgium — preparing to take on the world.

Our next goal? The 2025 Para-Cycling World Cup in Ostend, Belgium (May 1–4) — followed by races in Italy, Belgium, Brazil, and one day, the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

To get there, we need your help. We’re raising £20,000 to cover essential training costs, equipment, and a brand-new sports programme launching later this year. Every pound you donate helps us pedal forward — not just for ourselves, but for the thousands of children in Gaza who’ve lost limbs and hope.

We race for them. For every amputee who dreams of more. For a future where Gaza is known not for its suffering, but for its strength.

Support the Sunbirds — and help us fly.

Amos Trust is our UK fundraising partner and supports us in safely transferring funds internationally.

Photo credit: Alex Whitehead / Swiss Pix