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Hi all, I am Oliver and in April 2026, I will be taking on my first ever full marathon - 26.2 miles - in an effort to raise some much-needed funds for this wonderful cause, the Child Amputee in Gaza campaign.  

I will be running the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem, West Bank on 17 April 2026*, which will be a truly memorable experience. 

Hopefully all of the early mornings, long training sessions and sore legs will pay off, as I would love to use this challenge as a way to raise some funds to make a real difference.  This is a cause that means a lot to me and knowing that we are supporting this important campaign will keep me going when the runs get tough — especially around mile 20!

If you’re able to donate, no matter how big or small, it would mean a lot.  And if you can’t donate right now, sharing this page or cheering me on is just as appreciated.  Thank you so much for being part of this journey, I promise to give it everything I’ve got in April!

Importantly, no administrative fees are deducted by The Big Heart Foundation, which means that 100% of your donation will go to supporting the programme.

The Campaign

More than 1,000 children in Gaza are living with limb amputations and navigating ongoing physical and emotional hardship challenges each day.  Access to comprehensive care and rehabilitation remains essential to restoring mobility, renewing hope, and enabling them to move forward with dignity and stability.

In partnership with Taawon, The Big Heart Foundation continues the ‘For Gaza - لأطفال الزيتون ’ campaign through a comprehensive care programme supporting amputee children.

Your collective contribution of 25,000 AED fully covers one child’s complete rehabilitation journey, including:

• Custom prosthetic limb design and fitting

• Essential mobility and assistive devices

• Comprehensive paediatric rehabilitation services

• Trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial care

• Pre- and post-rehabilitation medical treatment, with continuous follow-up that adapts to each child’s growth and evolving needs until the age of 18.

*As mentioned above, I am planning to complete the race in Bethlehem on 17 April, but should there be any issues with travel/safety (in view of the current political tensions), then unfortunately my fallback option will be to run the Palestine Marathon virtually from the UAE. I will have to keep this in review until closer to the time, but hopefully that won't be necessary!

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