A FRIEND of Palestine is cycling 22 miles on each of 51 consecutive days to raise £4,000 for families on the West Bank living in territory occupied by the Israelis in 1967.

Judith Hammond, from Bradford on Avon, started her challenge on February 20 to raise funds to buy computer tablets for school children aged six-12.

A founder member of Bradford on Avon Friends of Palestine, she originally intended raising money to help fund sports facilities for children in Tubas.

BOAFOP has an official friendship link with Tubas, a Palestinian city in the West Bank.

Judith, 77, of Middle Rank, said: "Conversations with Jalal Khudairy, the headmaster with whom we liaise, identified a pressing need for tablets, as four out of five families do not possess a computer.

"Most children in Tubas are educationally disadvantaged and especially now during the Covid-19 pandemic."

"Over 90 families have received tablets for their children to access online classes but many more are needed."

The Big Ride, a charity which raises money for children in Gaza, by organising a huge national cycle ride each summer, gave Mrs Hammond the idea.

They suggested cyclists got fit by cycling 22 miles, the length of the tarmacked road in Gaza, just twice a week, between February 20 and April 11 marking 51 days, the length of the last Israeli onslaught on Gaza in 2014.

Mrs Hammond added: "I thought a real challenge would be to cycle every day. Each ride is taking me between two and three hours, depending on the conditions."

Judith is cycling a variety of routes from her home and on some days is being accompanied by friends and supporters. She has been practising in all weathers and has bought waterproof gear from TT Cycles locally.

She is using the Strava app to monitor the length of all 51 rides, which will eventually total 1,122.

So far, Mrs Hammond has raised £1,769. Go to www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/judith-hammond-tablets-for-tubas