My beloved late wife, Nasifa Hannan (Rinee), and my beloved late father, Haji Md Abdul Hannan, cherished children and lived for charity. They would have been utterly distraught to witness the plight of Palestinians, particularly children, in Gaza at this time. In honour of their loves and lives, and indeed in sadaqah jariyah, I have thus joined the inestimable H&KCC for their third annual Hijrah Ride in the New Year (24 Jan to 3rd Feb 2024).

Hijrah Ride is a joint partnership between H&KCC and Muntada Aid. Due to the devastation and destruction in Gaza, the Hijrah Ride 1445 will support emergency relief and rebuilding of crucial Muntada Aid projects destroyed in the ongoing war in Gaza. The effort will provide:

Immediate Emergency Relief Packs:

Muntada Aid has been relentlessly delivering essential aid packages to displaced households, prioritising children and the elderly, people with disabilities, and others with heightened vulnerability. Packs will continue to include food, water, blankets, hygiene kits, and other items tailored to special needs.

Water Desalination Plants:

Access to clean drinking water, even in normal situations, is an issue for the people of Gaza. The war makes it almost impossible for people to access clean drinking water. Muntada Aid built three small-scale desalination plants in Gaza, which on average can provide clean drinking water for upto 5000 people daily. We aim to double the impact of this project and provide another three desalination plants to the people of Gaza.   

Rebuilding of Gaza's Palestine Trauma Centre:

Muntada Aid runs the Palestine Trauma Centre, which has been providing long-term and desperately needed assistance to children and young adults who have suffered terrible PTSD. In 2022, the Centre had served over 24,000 people in Gaza. This clinic was damaged on the first day of the war. We are aiming to rebuild this facility and help professionals reach children and communities in need of help for their conflict-related psychological traumas.

About Hijrah Ride, ‘A Journey Like No Other’:   

On this 350 mile cycling marathon over three days from Makkah to Madinah, the gruelling course, hostile climate and tricky terrain test each rider to the limit. However, there is reward is being able to explore rustic villages, historical sights and serene desertscapes that separate these two holy cities of Islam. Moreover, there is especial reward in the opportunity to perform Umrah, and indeed perform prayers for lost loved ones … particularly poignant for me, having last performed Umrah in 2016 with both my wife and father.

The first two editions of Hijrah Ride raised over £225,000 for the ‘Little Hearts’ campaign, thereby funding over 120 paediatric heart operations in Kenya, Egypt and Tanzania. Below is a brief video documentary for the previous efforts:

This campaign is dedicated to fundraising on behalf of Muntada Aid, a registered charity in the UK. The collected funds will be directed to this charity to support its essential emergency efforts in Gaza. Please support with any kind donation.