SYRIA: Syrian band holds concert to raise funds for Irish cyclists heading to Gaza

Record ID: 279689

  • Title: SYRIA: Syrian band holds concert to raise funds for Irish cyclists heading to Gaza
  • Date: 9th August 2009
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) EYAD RIMAWI, MEMBER OF KULNA SAWA BAND, SAYING: "We would not be late to be a part of an event that offers something good to Gaza and we are interested in this case especially that in the last album of Kulna Sawa we were singing about many cases that are related to us in this region and about the pains we are suffering from, like Gaza. So we were not l
  • Embargoed: 24th August 2009 13:00
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  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA5W0YD4VBC294GJJST7Y95IU18
  • Story Text: Syrian band "Kulna Sawa" holds a concert to raise funds for five Irish cyclists heading to Gaza to show solidarity through fundraising and medical equipment Syrian band Kulna Sawa performed many of its new and old songs in front of hundreds of fans during a Palestinian night organised by the Syrian National School in order to raise funds for five Irish cyclists going to Gaza on bicycles.
    The cyclists are cycling from Ireland to Gaza. They also have a van that is filled with medical equipment that they are hoping to get into the strip.
    "It's been done before and many people are doing it in a day-to-day basis so we said what we want to do is to cycle to Gaza and make everyone know how small the world actually is and know that these people in Gaza are neighbours. So as the 22nd of June we left Ireland and left on our bicycles and this van here came with us and this van holds many god equipment. We transformed the van completely is advertising to let everyone know what's going on in Gaza," said Eghan Quinn, one of the cyclists.
    Kulna Sawa wanted to be part of the campaign by raising funds to be sent to Gaza through a Palestinian night where they performed many Palestinian traditional songs as well as there own.
    "We would not be late to be a part of an event that offers something good to Gaza and we are interested in this case especially that in the last album of Kulna Sawa we were singing about many cases that are related to us in this region and about the pains we are suffering from like Gaza. So we were not late in contributing in such event," said band member Eyad Rimawi.
    The concert was a popular draw, with many wishing to show their solidarity with Gazans.
    "To support others even if with very symbolic amounts and through such concerts where we have fun and raise funds with which we can achieve many important things in life. We should not say we can not we should try in order to become able to do something," said Luna Hamad, a student in the Syrian National School.
    The cyclists head from Damascus on Monday (August 3) toward Jordan.
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