Two best friends are hoping their efforts will help bring a sense of normality to a population under siege.

Saeed Ahmed, 44 and Khalid Javed, 47 will join a convoy of over a hundred vehicles as it makes it’s way through Europe and North Africa to Gaza.

The van has been organised by Omar Shazad Ghalib who gathered donations from the people of Rochdale.

Omar of the United For Justice group spent day and night getting the vans filled and volunteered his own time.

He bought the van, had it decorated and organised the drivers. He had intended to drive the van to Gaza himself but his employer denied him the extended leave.

So in stepped Saeed and Khaled who will driving one of the vans going from Rochdale. Saeed and Khaled grew-up together and have known each other for most of their lives.

Khaled, a father of four recently stopped work and decided to head out again after seeing the suffering in Gaza.

Meanwhile, Saeed decided to travel at the last minute when Khaled’s other driver pulled-out.

Saeed told us, “I had initially planned to travel but then things didn’t work out. So when the opportunity arose again I had to take it.

“I felt the family and business responsibilities were simply becoming excuses in my head. My passport was out of date and I made a late dash to Liverpool in order to sort out the paper work.

“My family have supported me whole heartedly even though they are aware that the trip will take a lot out of me.”

Their decision however was based on their desire to in some small way help the victims of the Gaza violence.

“We have both been deeply affected with all that has gone on in Gaza for many years now and this last occasion things became unbearable.

“It doesn't matter who or where humans are you cannot help but feel for their plight. In this case Muslims are under attack, imprisoned, they need aid, as a Muslim you actually feel the rippled effect of what goes on in Gaza thousands of miles away.”

Their van will be laden with among other things toys, games and colouring books for children.

Khalid said, “We're taking laptops, a generator and also filling it full of crayons and colouring books.

“Strange as that might sound but a psychologist advised us to offer a sense of normality to a desperate child under bombardment.

“It seems that the simplicity of providing the means to colour a picture in a book can take a childs mind off what is going on around them even if only for a few minutes.

“Donations are still very much needed and once we arrive in Gaza our aim is to build up relations with Palestinians as we've asked children from here to write letters to the children of Gaza so they can become penpals.”

The trip may last over a month and will really test the patience and endurance of all those taking part.

“We’re as prepared as you can be but like many others going on the convoy we simply want to make a difference to people’s lives.” added Saeed.