18:00, 11 March 2021
Words by Smiley Team, Staff Writer, London
Arriving in the UK with his family as a child, Aladdin Aljian travelled back and forth between his home country, Syria, visiting relatives. In 2011 the war prevented these journeys from continuing and exactly 10 years later, Aladdin is doing something for Syrians less fortunate than himself.
Making use of his spare time in lockdown, the 20-year-old law student is virtually cycling the distance from his current home in Lancaster, to his old home in Aleppo to fundraise for refugee charity Choose Love.
Already he’s raised over £2,000, half of which plus the gift aid will go to Choose Love, while the remaining half will be split between his local food bank and a homeless shelter in Lancaster.
“I think that now more than ever, everyone is struggling,” he said, “but all the people I know have the bare essentials. There are people out there who don’t have a home, a safe place to be, or even enough food. A lot of people have been comfort-eating through the pandemic. Meanwhile, others have barely any food to eat at all.”
He added: “I’ve been doing a lot of work for the food bank during the pandemic and I’ve seen firsthand how people are struggling to make ends meet. Lancaster is known for welcoming refugees, so the city has done a lot to give my people shelter. This is me returning the favour and showing my gratitude to the people of this city.”
In 2010 Aladdin’s father, an NHS doctor, gained British citizenship for his family and they arrived in the UK before war broke out. But Aladdin acknowledges that for others the journey from Syria has been a fight for their lives.
“Fundraising for Choose Love is my way of expressing gratitude to the charity helping those less fortunate than myself,” he said.
By cycling 2645 miles, the same distance other Syrians would have to travel, he hopes to pay tribute to refugees trying to escape the war.
For the remaining 20 miles or so, Aladdin will cycle along the coast. Rather than ending up in Syria’s war-torn capital, Aladdin will end his cycle ride at Lancaster Castle.
Support refugees and vulnerable Lancastrians by donating to Aladdin’s fundraiser here.
