My name is Keelan Oldham, and I am undertaking a deeply personal and symbolic challenge: to run 171 km non-stop across the UK, the exact combined length of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. This isn’t just a long run - it’s a commitment, a tribute, and a call to action. I will be undertaking this challenge on the weekend of the 13th of December.

Why 171km?

Because it represents the very geography of two Palestinian territories - the 130 km of the West Bank together with the 41 km of Gaza. By running this distance, I want to bring attention to the lives, stories, and ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people.

Who will the funds go to?

All proceeds will be donated to the MATW Project - an organisation doing critical humanitarian work in Palestine. The funds will provide vital aid to the men, women, and children who are caught in this conflict. They have suffered, and struggled for too long, and now as winter sets in, an already unbelievably difficult situation is becoming even harder. We have to help.

What this run means to me:

It’s a show of solidarity: I run because Palestinian lives matter, and their story must be seen and supported.

It’s a physical testament to endurance: the same lands I symbolically cross have endured so much hardship, displacement, and loss.

It’s a way to mobilise: for every mile I put under my feet, I hope to carry forward the voices, the hope, and the resilience of those who suffer.

How you can help:

Donate: every donation, big or small, will go straight to vital aid.

Share: please help me spread this campaign across your social media, with friends, family, and anyone who cares.

Follow: I will document the weeks of preparation, the run itself, and (with your support) reflections afterward — not just on distance, but on meaning.

Thank you for joining me in this run — in spirit, in solidarity, and in action. This isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a message: we see you, Palestine.