Next Saturday, 6th August, following a 10am rally in Whitworth Park, Manchester, over fifty cyclists, including many from Salford, will be setting off on The Big Ride, a three day excursion through Stoke on Trent to Birmingham, ending on Monday 8th August outside the UAV systems factory in Shenstone.
At the factory, the cyclists and their supporters will protest at the company's supply of drones made on the site to the Israeli army. Some of these drones were used in the attack on Gaza two years ago in which 2,200 Palestinians, including 547 children, were killed.
"I am riding this year to raise awareness of the situation affecting the children of Palestine" says Moira McLoughlin an academic in Salford who is joining The Big Ride
"I am a children's nurse by professional background, and now I teach future children's nurses not only to be future nurses and have compassion, but also the values that you would want to develop in practitioners for if/when your children required health care in the future" she explains "I feel passionate about caring for children globally and not just locally and this campaign tugs at my heart strings in so many ways. It is one world with humans living in it together and we must keep reinforcing that message."
The Big Ride is supported by War on Want, Campaign Against the Arms Trade, Middle East Children's Alliance, Jewish Fund for Peace and Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and at the morning rally there will be music and speakers will include MEP Julie Ward, who will also be cycling to Birmingham, and Gerard Kaufman, MP for Gorton, who says...
"I fully support the Big Ride for Palestine 2016, which I regard as an excellent initiative to raise awareness of the situation affecting the children of Palestine and helps to raise enormously needed funds to assist with projects in Gaza of children who have suffered the loss of their homes and families."
The cyclists will be setting off at 11am and The Big Ride organisers will welcome any other riders to join them for the first few miles as they make their way out of Manchester.
For more information see www.redspokes.co.uk/thebigride and to donate towards The Big Ride's cause see www.justgiving.com/teams/project3675191
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