Hey, I’m Charlotte. I am a cardiac intensive care nurse and mum of two beautiful boys from Blackpool.

As most of you will know, the current situation in Gaza has impacted me immensely, as i know it has many of us across the globe.
The death toll as I am writing this currently stands at over 14, 000. Just short of 6000 of those are children. 33,000, more than half of those children, are currently injured, with many of those in critical condition which no doubt will add to the ever-growing death toll. 6,000 are also missing, trapped under the rubble, potentially still alive. And it is only getting worse.

These people need our help.

I too, like so many feel helpless and the guilt that carries daily is relentless.

Therefore on the 22nd of December, and my 10-year-old son Jenson will walk for Palestine with the hopes of raising money to donate to both the United Nations relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and Medicins sans frontiers (MSF) otherwise known as Doctors Without Borders, both of which are currently on the ground in Gaza. The UNRWA were among the first to begin delivering aid to Gaza through the Rafa border from Egypt with 20 trucks delivered on the second run.
I have followed these charities for a while and have witnessed the impact they are having in Gaza through live videos, broadcasts etc. and I cannot stress how important what they are doing is. Unfortunately, lives have been lost from both charities but they keep going.

We have seen the footage, the pain, the suffering and amidst all of this they are being ordered to leave their homes, hospitals and camps for ‘supposedly’ safer places in the south, of which they are now being threatened may also be attacked. Nowhere is safe.

Although Jenson doesn’t know the true impact and details of what is going on, what he does know has hit him deeply so he has asked to be a part of this with me.

They are walking miles upon miles with the little they can carry, most with children in tow.
As anyone with children will know getting a child to walk from the car to the house is enough of a battle never mind miles worth. All without food, water and sleep. Bombs going off. Shooting everywhere they look.
Please for a second just imagine.

Many of us have seen the image of the woman dragging her two young children in car seats across the Gaza Strip to get to some degree of safety. Again just imagine having to do that.

Therefore on the 22nd of December, My plan is to walk from Blackpool to Preston which equates to a total of 17 miles.
Just a few miles short of the length of Gaza from north to south.
I also plan to take with me at least 30kg of weight for the entire duration, around the weight the woman would have been pulling with her two children. But will be determined on the day. Jenson wants to carry his backpack filled with books - his own request.

I know it’s coming up to Christmas and the cost of living is putting already immense strain on us but I please ask that you spare whatever you can.
That extra £10 towards your takeaway, or the £5 on your morning coffee trip.
Anything will be better than nothing.

£250 could provide 6 blood transfusion kits. Something I’m sure they desperately need.

This goes beyond just us. This is a humanitarian crisis. This is a genocide.
Your money will help provide essentials like nappies, formula, sanitary towels, blankets, food, water, medical kits, and equipment.
They are also on the ground providing emotional support for the children who undoubtedly will be traumatized for life following the things they have witnessed. I’ve seen them dress up in character costumes, giving out chocolate bars and getting them in groups signing songs and playing games. Limited distractions from what’s going on around them but so so important. Even just being there for a cuddle, for the orphaned children that now have no parents, just to let them know someone is there. A hug can go a long way.

All funds raised will be donated directly and split evenly between both charities on the 24TH December.

I have never done anything like this before and am going extremely out of my comfort zone even just posting this, however, I want to do as much as I can for the innocent people being subject to this absolute horror. This is nothing in comparison to the hell they are experiencing every day.

What happened on the 7th October was horrific and the hostages need to be brought home. If we could go back and put a stop to it I know we would, But this response is unjustified and brutal and it needs to stop. Innocent children and families should not be punished for a terrorist's actions.

Thank you

Anything you can give will be appreciated more than you know.

*I would like to add that I have never done a GoFundMe before so am just winging it. I would have clicked to send the donations directly to the charities however it wouldn’t bring them up when I searched them and I wasn’t risking the money going elsewhere.
i will post evidence of money having been sent on the 24TH! If anyone has any tips however please let me know! The angels who have donated already can vouch for me❤️ thank you all
of you.

I will also be adding an extra £50 of my own money to the final amount.

and to the precious babies and children who are living this horror. I see you, I hear you and I feel your pain.
I hold you in my heart