Story

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.  

My original plan was to run the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem, West Bank on 17 April 2026*, which would be a truly memorable experience, however, due to the current position, it appears that I will now have to join the 2026 Palestine Marathon virtually from Dubai. I have registered for both the official physical and virtual races. 

I will be joined on the run in Dubai by a number of friends who are keen to support this amazing campaign to raise as much awareness and funds for the charity as possible. 

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, I promise to give it everything I’ve got in April!

Importantly, please note that 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 was planning to complete the race in Bethlehem on 17 April, but in view of the current humanitarian position, it is looking increasingly likely that unfortunately my fallback option will be to run the Palestine Marathon virtually from the UAE. I am still keeping this in review until closer to the time.

updates