LONDON: More than 1,200 cyclists across the United Kingdom are gearing up for a three-week ride through major cities to raise awareness and funds for Gaza, urging the newly-elected Labour government to push for an immediate ceasefire and stop arms sales to Israel.
The annual cycling event, known as The Big Ride, initiated in 2015 by activists passionate about cycling and solidarity with Palestine, kicks off this Saturday and will continue until August 10. Participants will cycle through cities including London, Belfast, Liverpool, Sheffield, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, and South Wales.
Organized by a grassroots movement, The Big Ride also aims to collect donations for Palestinian charities, such as the Middle East Children’s Alliance, The Amos Trust, and the Gaza Sunbirds para-cycling team. These organizations continue their critical humanitarian work in Gaza amidst ongoing conflict.
Ellen Logan, an organizer of The Big Ride, highlighted the urgency of their cause: “For years we have witnessed the daily oppression of the Palestinian people — discrimination, subjugation, and inhumanity. And now we have spent the last 10 months watching a live-streamed genocide. Everyone should be outraged and campaigning for an end to this violence.”
Using bicycles as a symbol of freedom and mobility, Logan emphasized the practical impact of their efforts: “We use our bikes and freedoms to raise awareness and provide crucial aid for children and disabled cyclists on the ground in Gaza.”
Recent estimates published in The Lancet, a British medical journal, suggest the death toll in Gaza could be as high as 186,000.
British actress Maxine Peake, who is participating in The Big Ride, emphasized the event’s decade-long commitment to raising awareness: “The Big Ride for Palestine has been raising awareness of this for nearly 10 years now. This year, more riders than ever have signed up, so please join a Big Ride near you.”
