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While we are running round our park in Meersbrook, there will also be people running in Palestine: in Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem and in Gaza.
The isolation they are subjected to day to day will often make people feel they are forgotten. By running together we are helping Palestinians feel supported .

We are especially pleased to say that a run will take place at “Al-Istiqlal-Independence Park” in Ramallah on Saturday 15 June 2019, from 17:00 to 18:30 pm.

We expect at least 100 people of all ages – mainly from four camps in the middle of the West Bank, Al-Jalazoun, Qalandia, Al Ama’ri and Birziet refugee camps – to take part.

The head of the Executive Office of the Refugees’ Camps in the West Bank will open the event highlighting our solidarity in Sheffield with Palestinian people.

Last year and in 2017 we had wonderful community based runs and a generous spirit pervading all aspects of the 24 hours. And during these runs we emphasised with really good effect how things we take for granted, like the right to movement and adequate living space, are not enjoyed by most Palestinians because of the siege of Gaza or occupation of the West Bank.

This year we want to extend this further to explore a dominant theme for Palestinians – separation: from home and homeland, from family and loved ones, from participating as a free person in civic life.

This year we would like to try to decrease this separation and consequent isolation all be it in a small way. This year we especially want to have an inclusive run. This means including all of our community locally as well as reaching to Palestinians 00s of miles away.

So we will be making contact with local groups not involved before and we want to encourage disabled people to take part too. We will be setting aside a couple of time slots where we will make a particular effort to ensure you have the support you need; and, if we can, we will help at other times too.

If you are disabled, we will work with you to see how we can help. Please get in touch

And we will be encouraging runners to reach out and ‘buddy up’ with runners in Nablus and Bethlehem, as well as our long term partners in Khan Younis in Gaza, where there will be simultaneous runs.

In addition we have plans for a climbing wall and an imitation checkpoint to give a flavour of the life Palestinians lead every day.

And of course there will be more poetry, a photo exhibition, lanterns at dusk and lots of music.

Sign up and take part !

“It’s easy to be cynical about trying to change the world, but if I can take part, have fun and help promote and raise funds for such a good cause then it’s worth tiring myself out.”

Louise Haigh has very kindly agreed to open this year’s small park BIG RUN. She will also run the first half hour time slot – no mean feat for a super busy Member of Parliament.  We asked her about her views on justice for Palestinians and what her thoughts are on the upcoming run – read what she said below.

What is the single most important thing that needs to be done to achieve justice in Palestine?

I was in Palestine in February this year and just a couple of weeks ago I secured a debate in Parliament on the humanitarian situation in Gaza.  I don’t think anyone could say that there is one, single thing that will bring justice to the Palestinian people so in no particular order I think recognition, arms control and properly recognising trade with the illegal settlements as illegal are steps we can immediately take to set us on the road to justice but only a sovereign Palestinian state, I believe, will see justice delivered.

Why are you running?

Supporting the ambitions and life chances of young women and girls who are living in unimaginably tough circumstances is really important to me. We have so many freedoms and opportunities in this country compared to young people growing up in Palestine, and events like this can be a great way to help make life easier for those who don’t.

It’s easy to be cynical about trying to change the world but if I can take part, have fun and help promote and raise funds for such a good cause then it’s worth tiring myself out.

How did you enjoy the event last year and why?

Last year’s run took place right after the General Election – so by comparison it was fairly relaxing. The turnout and enthusiasm of the people there was really encouraging and I’m hoping the weather this summer can coax even more people out for the occasion.

How many laps will you do this time?

I can’t remember how many I did last year, it was only a couple of days after the most exhausting election campaign I’ve ever known so I walked around it pretty leisurely with Julie Pearn and chatted the whole way round. I’ll say four and hope I can bust expectations.

Who will run the fastest lap, you or Magid Magid?

I’ll do my best but I’d imagine it’ll be Magid – I’ve recently taken up boxing and football again so I’m built for strength rather than than speed!

Thanks Louise!

As you will know the really big idea is Justice for Palestinians

The big idea for the small park BIG RUN is about community. How can we best link with the community in Gaza, how can we link with the communities across Sheffield; can we run for 24 hours together – keeping at least two people on the course at all times.

The effect of this for people in Gaza is beyond what we might expect. 

Any caring contact has a dramatic impact on moral and their spirit and their resilience. So, for a single day, one 24 hour period we are holding hands with them and recalling what it is to be in Gaza.

Listed below are when no one is down to run. Can you help?

• Saturday 12:30
• Saturday 13:00
• Saturday 13:30
• Saturday 14:00
• Saturday 14:30
• Saturday 17:30
• Saturday 18:30
• Saturday 22:00
• Saturday 23:00
• Saturday 23:30
• Sunday 0:00
• Sunday 0:30
• Sunday 1:00
• Sunday 1:30
• Sunday 2:00
• Sunday 2:30
• Sunday 6:30
• Sunday 7:30
• Sunday 9:00
• Sunday 9:30

Either log back into eventbrite and set your running times or email us, let us know when you would like to run and we will set that up

Cafe Des Amis, a popular Palestinian cafe on Chesterfield Road, just round the corner from the park have said they will donate 10% of all takings over the run weekend to the causes the run is highlighting.

Some of you who have been in the cafe, will have noticed that there is a key hanging on the wall. This is a copy of the key the owner, Lena, still holds; it is for the family home that had to be left during the Nakba, 70 years ago.

So, when you are hungry over the run weekend, get some scram from notre amis  at Cafe des Amis

In early June 2017, the Diyar women’s football team from Bethlehem is coming to the UK – they will visit and play matches in Bristol, Bath, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and London on theirtour.

They visit Sheffield on the same weekend as the small park BIG RUN – June 10/11. We are very honoured that Diyar will be opening our run on Saturday at noon and participating in a fun penalty shootout competition on Sunday morning. From 1pm on Saturday they will participate in a tournament at UMIX  (details below).

Diyar Bethlehem was founded by players at Bethlehem University in 2008. It is one of the West Bank’s leading teams and many of their players are in the Palestine national women’s team.

Honey Thaljieh is co-founder of Diyar and first captain of the Palestinian women’s football team. She explains:

“Football is more than a game. It’s about social inclusion, identity and pride for one’s country. It’s about putting Palestine on the world map.” Her advice to other women players is “believe in your talent and be determined—with support you can achieve”.

In 2014, two women’s football teams, Easton Cowgirls from Bristol and Republica Internationale from Leeds, toured the West Bank area of Palestine to play against Diyar and other women’s teams.

They saw what life was like in towns and villages under Israel’s military occupation. In particular they found out some of the issues facing women wanting to play football in Palestine.

On their return, they made a film Balls, Barriers and Bulldozers about their experience. It shows how joyful but also how challenging, thought-provoking and at times sad their experience was.

Balls Barriers and Bulldozers Trailer from Harriet on Vimeo.

Inspired by that film, Liverpool Friends of Palestine took on the daunting task of organising and fundraising for this brave and groundbreaking tour.

The Diyar team will visit and play matches in Bristol, Bath, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and London on the tour.

You can support their tour by contributing to the Crowdfunding effort.