It's Palestine here we run!

MARATHON men . . . three of the five runners who will be taking part in the epic run, Atiff Mazhar, Saif Ahmed and Shazad Saddique with friends and family cheering them on

FIVE daring fundraisers are preparing to battle heat and tough conditions as they train for the Palestine Marathon and half marathon next month.

The five friends, Atiff Mazhar, Saif Ahmed, Hasina Begum, Shazad Saddique and Mo Campbell, are already training hard for the March 31 challenge.

They hope to raise a total of £10,000 for SKT Welfare, a UK-based charity delivering humanitarian aid in the world's poorest areas, including Gaza.

And for four of the Oldham team it will be their first ever long-distance challenge, with Attif and Shazad running their first marathon alongside regular runner Mo, while Saif and Hasina take on their first half-marathon run.

Atiff (38) said: "We wanted to do something to help people in the Gaza strip after researching the situation and I looked at doing the half marathon in Palestine.

"But Mo managed to twist my arm into doing the full race with Shazad.

"When people talk about doing a marathon they've usually done it in London or somewhere else in the UK.

"Taking part in the Palestine race will be an adventure in itself."

The team have already started training for the big day, with lengthy runs four times a week and even trips to the sauna to help acclimatise them to the intense heat they will experience in Palestine compared to Oldham's damp and cold weather.

Motivated

Atiff added: "We know it's going to be tough but we have the best motivation as we are running for such a good cause.

"The charity's water desalination project is something Gaza desperately needs.

"About 95 per cent of water in Gaza is unfit for drinking and a water desalination plant will help convert the water into safe water for families in the area."

He added that all the money raised by the five runners will go towards the charity, with each member self-funding their travel to Palestine and entry into the events.

The race begins at The Church of Nativity in Bethlehem and takes runners through two refugee camps - Al Aida and Ad Dheisheh - and along the West Bank Wall, with those taking on the marathon challenge running the race twice.

As the event cannot be run in one continuous circuit, with participants needing to double back on themselves to complete the full distance due to road blocks and a border, the race itself is a cause as it aims to raise awareness on the right to move freely in Palestine.

All are encouraged to take part in the event, with members of the public, wheelchair users, children, elderly residents and women pushing prams taking part alongside serious competitors.

To donate to their fundraising campaign visit justgiving.com/fundraising/team-oldham.