Four Galway nurses are among a group of friends and family planning to walk from Ballintubber Abbey to Croagh Patrick in solidarity with Palestinian people forced to leave their homes and do the same trek from Gaza to Rafah.

Sabrina Egan and her sister-in-law Kay Egan decided to set up the fundraiser for the Irish grass roots humanitarian organisation called Gaza go Bragh.

“As is the case with many people around the world, we have both been devastated watching the horrors unfold and felt we needed to do something tangible to channel that grief and support in any way we could,” explains Sabrina.

“I attend a health care workers vigil outside the gates of Galway University Hospital every Tuesday evening when I can and also attend the national demonstrations in Dublin along with supporting other ongoing fundraising efforts.”

Last September, their friend Bríd Hennelly was working with families in Direct Provision and came up with the idea that every child there should have a toy for Christmas. So, she decided to host a party at the Old Boys Club Community Centre on Sea Road to make this happen.

“The support we received setting up this event was phenomenal. From the accommodating bus driver to Kevin [Nugent] at Mr Waffle, to our own friends showing up on the day with food and home baked treats.

“Some friends came with their own children who played traditional Irish music and danced. This led to an Irish African dance-off, which was mighty craic. After the success of this party, we went onto have multiple clothes drives and family fun events.”

From this, ‘Pilgrim for Palestine’ was born. The 35km distance between Ballintubber Abbey and Ireland’s holiest mountain in Westport mirrors the voyage forced upon Gazan families by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to leave their homes over the last 20 months of war.

Gaza go Bragh, founded by Piaras O’Brien, is delivering essential aid such as water, food, tents and cash to people living in migratory refugee camps.

The women have well surpassed their original target of €2,500 – with donations now at nearly €15,000 with hopes high they can reach €20,000 over the next month.

The group of eight – Sabrina, Kay, Bríd along with Evelyn Kelly, Fiona Murphy, Blanaid Gilmartin, Olivia McSharry and Lisa Chambers – will undertake their trek on Saturday week, July 19, with other friends and family likely to join on the day.

The eight are all based in Galway city and county: Sabrina, Bríd, Olivia and Blanaid are nurses working within the community setting and acute services while the others work in various roles unconnected to health care.

“But we all connected through our roles and friendships, and all because of our need to want to actively help and do something tangible during this genocide,” reiterates Sabrina.

“We are thrilled with the support we’ve got so far. This journey isn’t just a physical challenge for us – it’s both a symbolic act of solidarity with the people of Gaza, mirroring  the harrowing journey that thousands of Palestinians have been forced to take.”

To contribute log onto:  › fundraiser › PilgrimforPalestine.

Pictured: Some of the women taking part in the Pilgrim for Palestine – Evelyn Kelly, Kay Egan, Fiona Murphy, Bríd Hennelly and Sabrina Egan.