Ramallah: This month, 90 runners from the UK participated in the Palestine Marathon and raised thousands of dollars for charity.

They participated in the race on behalf of the UK-based international humanitarian organisation Penny Appeal, whose projects in Palestine aim to provide food, medical supplies, olive trees, and emergency relief to those in need. To date, they have raised over £200,000 ($245,000) for these initiatives.

The popular Run for Palestine event, according to Penny Appeal, "brings together runners of all abilities and backgrounds to support a worthy cause."

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"The marathon exposed participants to various facets of Palestinian daily life. The course itself is challenging, with some fast sections interspersed with some steep hills, in a setting unlike any other marathon.

The athletes were happy to have finished the race and to have contributed to a worthwhile cause.

It continued that the main race, which starts at the Church of the Nativity in the heart of Bethlehem's Old City, takes runners through the city as well as the Al-Aida and Ad-Dheisheh refugee camps. Participants in the 2018 Penny Appeal had the option of running a 5K, 10K, or half marathon in addition to the full marathon.

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One of the volunteers exclaimed, "I'm thrilled to see our charity runners finish the Run for Palestine and to have raised money for such a crucial cause."

"Without the help of our friends, family, and the incredible volunteers who made this event possible, we couldn't have done it. We take great pride in knowing that we helped those who needed it most.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone who participated in the Run for Palestine and helped us raise money for this important cause," said Ridwana Wallace Laher, CEO of Penny Appeal.

"The funds raised will go a long way towards assisting us in improving the lives of those who are in need all over the world.

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"Without the help of our runners, volunteers, and sponsors, we couldn't have done it, and we're already excited for next year's event."