The Big Ride bikers completed their Edinburgh to London fundraising ride for the Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA) this afternoon at Archbishop's Park, Lambeth. They had cycled 435 miles in 9 days.
Among the more than 200 riders were Kam Datta and Alberto Zerda from Brent. Kam raised more than £1000 and Red Spokes, the organisers, hope that the total will reach £60,000.
You can still donate at:
This is the statement about the project on the Just Giving website:
Congratulations to Kam and Alberto and all the other participants who ranged in age from 14 to 80.What is the problem the project is addressing?Children in Gaza live with the constant threat of Israeli military assault and the ongoing blockade of basic necessities and medical care. There is widespread poverty and a closed environment where people and goods cannot travel freely. The UN estimates that 400,000 children in Gaza are showing signs of severe psychological distress including bed-wetting, nightmares, aggression, phobias, extreme withdrawal or anxiety and difficulty eating, sleeping or speaking.How will this project solve the problem?The situation for children in Gaza is an emergency. MECA will use your donations to provide emergency aid to families in Gaza and deliver medicine and medical supplies to hospitals. MECA will support community-based organisations that run creative writing programs, sports teams, art and music classes; to build playgrounds and much more. Meanwhile, The Big Ride is working to raise awareness in the UK about the situation for children in Gaza.What is the potential long-term impact of this project?This project will reduce the children's risk of disease and malnutrition by addressing basic needs for food, medical care and adequate shelter that could impact their development and long-term health. By involving children in creative community activities, the project will also protect children's long-term mental health, making them more resilient against the risks of severe anxiety, depression, aggression and withdrawal.