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This project successfully funded on 1st July 2025, you can still support them with a donation.
Running for the Palestinian people
Peterborough, England, United Kingdom
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Aim: I will be running 5K a day in June to raise money for Palestine Red Crescent Society (50%) and Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (50%).
Background
I've been thinking a lot recently about my grandfather and members of his immediate family, all of whom were caught up in the Armenian Genocide of 1915-1923. I pondered whether they thought at the time if it would ever end, if any of them would make it out alive and if anyone from the international community would ever bring a halt to the atrocities. Thankfully, my grandfather and most of his immediate family were able to make it out alive and continue on their legacy. However, many others were not as fortunate. After learning about the Armenian Genocide, as well as other genocides throughout the 20th century, such as the Holocaust, Srebrenica and Rwanda, I promised myself that I would take a stand if I ever happened to come across a moment in my life where I was physically witnessing such horrors taking place again.
On 29 April 2025, the next chapter of our family's story began when God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl. In years to come, our children and grandchildren will ask us what we all did to try and stop the killing that's taking place as we speak. We've all grown up, learning about past massacres and genocides that have taken place in years gone by. Each memorial day and anniversary, those words "never again" are uttered. Time and again. And yet, in 2025, here we are once more, in Gaza this time, standing at the precipice.
I, like many, many others, over the last 19 months have watched on in sheer horror at the despair and destruction unfolding in Gaza, feeling completely helpless to stop the bloodshed and utterly hopeless about the direction our world is headed in.
The more I look at my daughter now, the more I realise that I cannot continue to watch what's happening in Gaza idly without taking any action at all. A place where babies as young as her are being killed or starved for simply existing in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't want my daughter growing up in a world where impunity reigns and crimes such as forced starvation and other abominable acts against humanity can continue to go on unchecked. People must be held to account for all of the atrocities that have taken place over the last 19 months. In addition to governmental pressure, civil society everywhere must pick up the mantle and do whatever they can in their power to highlight the plight of the Palestinian people and support them in their darkest hours.
Fundraiser
To that end, I will, throughout the month of June, be running 5K a day to try and raise money for two important charities who both play fundamental roles in advancing the rights and welfare of the Palestinian people; Palestine Red Crescent Society* (PRCS) and Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights** (LPHR). I've selected these two charities in particular as the Palestinians a) urgently need unfettered access to humanitarian assistance, and b) deserve the dignity afforded to all human beings and the knowledge that justice and accountability will come to those who have disregarded international law over the last 19 months.
*The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and provides humanitarian assistance as well as health and social services to Palestinians, whenever and wherever needed.
**Lawyers for Palestinian Human Rights (LPHR) is a legal charity in the UK that works on projects focused on protecting and promoting Palestinian human rights.
Anything you can contribute towards helping me achieve my target will be massively appreciated. I am realistic and wholly recognise that my efforts are but a drop in the ocean, but if we all take some form of action on this matter, collectively, we really could make a huge difference to the situation on the ground.
Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for anything you can contribute.