A 40-YEAR-old man is cycling 474 miles from Edinburgh to London to raise awareness and money for the children of Gaza and Palestine.
Jim Morris-Ridout, from Ballingham, was prompted to take on the challenge for the Middle East Children's Alliance, after he was left shocked by last year's bombing in Gaza.
The alliance supports families in Palestine, Iraq and Lebanon- including providing medical aid, and educational and play equipment.
Mr Morris-Ridout, who is a landscaper, said: "I was 40 in March this year and this is in partly why I signed up for the Big Ride as I wanted to do something special to remember my 40th year.
"For my birthday I went to Sweden with my family for a week and it just so happened that shortly before we went Sweden recognised Palestine as a state and opened an embassy."
He emailed the embassy and they invited in Mr Morris-Ridout and his wife, Helen, two sons, Rue and Noah, and daughter, Anna Olive.
He told the ambassador, Hala Husni Fariz, about the Big Ride, which is from August 1 to 9.
To sponsor him go to www.justgiving.com/Jim-Morris-Ridout/
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