I let my feet do the talking and set the world record!

I “let my feet do the talking” at the Gaza 100 last Saturday. After two years of living in the Palestinian Territories, I am always looking for ways that people from the West can support Palestinians, especially the innocents who suffer the most.

The horrific destruction and loss of life in Gaza that marked the beginning of this year still sits like an open sore in my mind. What can be done? How about setting a Guinness World Record for 100-meter relay runs in 12 hours and raising reconstruction money at the same time?

When my wife and I pitched up at Mile End Stadium on a balmy Saturday at 3:45pm, 600 people had already run the 100 meters. As we cued up under a tent waiting to go out on the track, we were entertained by singers from a stage in the green inside the track. The main show was put on by the runners themselves. Each person ran differently: a young Palestinian woman draped a kuffiyeh over her head and jogged proudly; a 10 year old boy sprinted like he was training for the Olympics, and an elderly man trotted with his hands in the air, bringing huge cheers from the crowd. As I approached the starting line, I peered down the track to see who would hand the baton off to me. I could just make out a figure in the distance, moving slowly in my direction. It was a woman who was at least 70, wearing an abaya and slippers, making her way toward me in a dignified fashion. How could I top that? I gently grabbed the baton from her and ran at medium pace, just trying to make sure I didn’t drop it. And then in a few seconds I handed it off to another young boy who blazed a trail behind me.

What did this event accomplish? I didn’t see a free Gaza and a peaceful Middle East. But 1,200 people in the UK were mobilized to get involved and to do something to help out. And we did set that world record.

What about you? How can you use your creativity to make a difference in the Middle East? Or right here at home?