A HUSBAND and wife are gearing up for a bike ride to raise funds for children 'traumatised' by the horrific Gaza bombing in 2014.

Mike Eggboro, 69, and Ann, 66, from Grappenhall, are joining 90 others to take part in The Big Ride on August 4 three years on from the atrocity.

Approximately 2,200 Palestinians, including 547 children, were killed following the bombardment.

The couple, of Victoria Avenue, went on a cycling holiday in the West Bank and occupied territories in 2014 and they were moved by the experience after seeing the plight suffered by Palestinians first hand.

Mike will cycle from Liverpool to Sheffield over three days on a route stretching around 120 miles, with Ann joining him for part of the journey.

He said: "It is an ongoing problem for the children in Gaza – the children are still traumatised from the Gaza bombing.

"There are big humanitarian issues and children need help getting their lives back.

"We went in 2014 and would like to go again to help rebuild houses for the people there."

Mike has cycled around 200 miles during training in the past month and is vowing to pull out all the stops in the final weeks before the challenge.

"I will be going out on my bike at every opportunity and will be looking to do a bit more hill training," he added.

"Whatever hardship any of the riders may face, it is nothing in comparison to what the Palestinian people have to endure.

"We don't live in fear of bombs coming through our roof and we don't have problems with water supplies."

Stockton Heath Methodist Church has volunteered to host a lunch meeting for the riders on day one of the journey at the midway point from Liverpool to Manchester.

The pair raised more than £1,500 after completing last year's event.

Money raised will go towards sporting equipment for children in Gaza to help with their rehabilitation.

The Big Ride, which was initiated in 2015, has raised almost £100,000 for the Middle East Children's Alliance to date.

For further information or to donate visit redspokes.co.uk/thebigride.