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Cycling for freedom 

Road to the world stage

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WHATS HAPPENING?

On April 11th, we got the call we had been waiting months for, our evacuation order to Egypt finally arrived and with it, our only remaining chance to classify for our paralympic dreams. Teaming up with the National Cycling Federation, we left everything behind with the dream of raising the Palestinian flag on the world stage. We're now team Palestine.

To date the team has already made history as the first Palestinian cycling team competing internationally in history. The team has competed in the Paracycling World Cup in both Oostend, Belgium and Maniago, Italy. More recently, Alaa competed in the Asian Paracycling Championships. 

coach hassan and alaa warming up before a race, Italy

races so far

27th april

world Cup I

Oostend, Belgium

15th May

world Cup II

Maniago,Italy

6th June

Asian Champs

Almaty, Kazakistan
all races

our Journey

After 192 days in the genocide all delegation members were evacuated from Gaza before closing of Rafah Border, they made it to Egypt. Everyone left their families behind to raise the Palestinian Flag on the world stage.

They made it to Egypt where we partnered with Power Rides to start testing and training. The team spent 16 days in Egypt before flying to Brussels for the first World Cup.

The cycling world cups were the final opportunity to get the classification needed in order to apply for a bipartite committee application - thats a sort of wild card - or a solidarity card to allow an athlete to participate in the paralympics. All 3 athletes from the Delegation were successfully classified and competed in the cycling world cup in Oostend, competing in both the time trial, and the road race. Following successful completion of the races, Alaa and the coach carried on to Italy where they competed in the time trial.With these participations Alaa was able to achieve the minimum requirements to apply for a committee invitation, although this in no way guarantees him a slot. We patiently wait for the July 10th response date. 

The asian para-cycling road championships was our last opportunity to qualify for the Cycling World Championships happening in Zurich Switzerland 21-29. Alaa took part in the 16 km Time Trial in Almaty, Kazakistan. Following a confusion on the start line Alaa's time was modified +5 mins, finishing him in 5th place, and costing him a potential 3rd place finish. None-the-less, we were still to qualify for the Road championships while Alaa showcases his improvement. 

After hard work we were able to classify and make our bipartite committee (wild card) application in time, but unfortunately we did not receive the invitation this time around. Some trouble with Palestinian Paralympians Visas which had us believing we would be selected to represent Palestine, an alternative Palestinian from diaspora was chosen as their games matched those of the original wild card holders. Alaa is steadfast in his mission and continues training for a participation in the Cycling World Championships in Zurich. This is the biggest para-cycling event of the year after the Paralympics. 

The Cycling World Championships happening in Zurich Switzerland 21-29, will be the first time where Para-cycling and cycling are hosted at the same event. This will be an opportunity for us to race against the best in the world, and raise the Palestinian flag at a sporting event. The event will be paired with the international cycling congress where Palestine will appear for the first time. 
See our Journey

What you fund

Meet the three athletes that set off to represent us on the world stage this season. With Alaa progressing forward, qualifying for the Cycling World Championships and successfully making a wild card application to the Paralympics. 

By supporting us you help us fund our flights, Visa applications, training and food which we need to travel internationally and raise the Palestinian flag. We proudly represent Palestine, Gaza and our stories in many press opportunities and you can follow our travels and journeys on social media. 

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Meet the athletes

Inspiring The World

Since the genocide started more than 10 Kids a day loose their limbs in Gaza. Our team has lost everything, from our homes to our bikes.  To date there will be at least 30,000 people with disabilities in Gaza as a result of the atrocities being committed. We want to inspire the future generations of Gaza that anything is possible, under any circumstances. You can check out the press's coverage of our journey here:

5 years of delivery
Since 2020 we’ve logged five consecutive years of aid runs, sports programmes, and global campaigns—through war, siege, and displacement. That track record means trusted local networks, refined logistics, and the know-how to keep delivering when larger agencies stall.
video reporting
Every aid run is filmed end-to-end, from loading the truck to the hand-offs, so supporters can see precisely where their contributions go. We edit and share these clips within days, tagging donors and partners to celebrate our shared achievements and provide transparent, verifiable proof that the work on screen matches the pledges we make.
price concious
Getting money into Gaza is hard; maximising its impact is non-negotiable. Our field team scouts prices daily. With local connections and price comparisons, we lock in fair pricing to deliver services to the widest number of people possible.  
tripple audited
We are tripple audited by our local partners in Gaza, by our international team and by our International Charity Partners. Our funds are held with AMOS Trust for specific purposes. This means the money you send in for aid gets used for aid, and the money you send in for our other activities are held on the side too. Your money will definitely make it to Gaza, every month we are able to expand on the amount of services we are providing people.
impact focused
Aid is paired with story. Each food box or water tank we deliver is photographed or filmed with the family’s consent; the 60-second stories that follow have generated 3 million+ views and a wave of repeat donations. By linking needs to human faces, we transform one-off gifts into sustained community support.
5 years of delivery
Since 2020 we’ve logged five consecutive years of aid runs, sports programmes, and global campaigns—through war, siege, and displacement. That track record means trusted local networks, refined logistics, and the know-how to keep delivering when larger agencies stall.
Disability lead
Athletes with disabilities aren’t just beneficiaries here—they’re part of our leadership. From programme design to our teams long term vision, people with disabilities help shape every decision, proving that those most affected by violence and exclusion are best placed to drive bold, inclusive solutions. 
Community Run
The Sunbirds are a grassroots collective, led by Palestinians on the ground and in the diaspora. We make decisions close to the communities we serve, cutting out costly bureaucracy and ensuring that resources move quickly from donors to frontline action.

Athletes, team staff, and local volunteers manage every delivery route and training session. Our field team lives inside the camps we serve, so aid lists come from neighbours. Distributed  with a team structure, we move faster than large INGOs, intervening to support our community through a diverse range of interventions. 

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