Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper), An appeal has been launched to help raise vital funds for the “health and dignity” of Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees.
The “100km in July Challenge” has been organised by the group, Medical Aid for Palestinians.
Cailin Mackenzie, who is the Brussels branch vice-chair of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), is among those who have signed up for the challenge.
She told this site: “I signed up in June for ‘100km in July’ for Medical Aid for Palestinians before the recent attacks on Jenin but support is even more necessary now.
“MAP works to provide access to effective, sustainable, and locally-led systems of healthcare and the full realization of the right to health and dignity for Palestinians living under occupation and as refugees. I’m actually a volunteer Red Cross EMT but I will be out and about to raise money for MAP so it can continue this vital work.”
She added, “I moved to Ramallah in February 2003, after the 2002 attacks on the Mukataa, and on the eve of the invasion of Iraq. I lived there for almost two years during the second intifada.
“The ‘Wall’ went up whilst I was there, I wrote a photoblog and a diary which documented what I saw in my day-to-day life as a university employee. In 2010 I went on a university exchange for a month to Jenin.
“I wish the photos I took 20 years ago, and the experiences I had, reflected acts that were a thing of the past. But they do not. What was happening then is nothing to what has happened since.”
“From neonatal care to emergency response, MAP is providing aid in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, and Lebanon.”
She went on, “I will be walking (and possibly swimming) 100km in July to try and raise some funds. I started my 100km on Monday 3rd of July with a gentle 1.2 km walk in London, between two train journeys. In 2003, we were walking that just to cross the Surda checkpoint.
“All contributions would be greatly appreciated.”
NUJ members are invited to sponsor her through a “just giving” page linked to the fundraiser – https://www.justgiving.com/page/cailin 100km july formap
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