Eighty-two-year-old grandmother-of-six scaled the twelve miles up Mont Ventoux in southern France to support Amos Trust’s Gaza appeal.

London Quaker cycles for Gaza

Eighty-two-year-old grandmother-of-six scaled the twelve miles up Mont Ventoux in southern France to support Amos Trust’s Gaza appeal.

by Rebecca Hardy 31st May 2024

A Lewisham Quaker cycled twelve miles up a French mountain to raise £13,000 for aid to Gaza.

Anne M Jones, a contributor to the Friend, scaled the twelve miles up Mont Ventoux in southern France to support Amos Trust’s Gaza appeal. The retired psychotherapist and social worker told the BBC that she felt a ‘responsibility’ to help the Palestinian people.

‘I want to encourage people to get out there,’ said the eighty-two-year-old grandmother-of-six, who, supported by a team, braved six hours of bad weather conditions before reaching the summit at 1,910m (6,270ft) above sea level. ‘There are a lot of people who get to sixty-five and think their age means they can’t do things but my message is they can.’

Writing on her JustGiving page, she said: ‘I would rather use my time this way than wringing my hands in despair and anguish… Over 11,000 Palestinian children killed is 11,000 too many, just as each Israeli killed is one too many.’

Last September Anne M Jones also took part in the Big Ride for Palestine. ‘It’s the love and solidarity across all peoples that matters,’ she wrote, in an article for the Friend about the witness. ‘I was among 300 good-natured, funny, supportive people, who care deeply about human rights.’


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