Nick Pretzlik was the very first cyclist to join The Peace Cycle almost a year ago and he never stopped telling me how much he was looking forward to cycling to Palestine. He has been a constant source of support and encouragement over the last several months, and he was at every event we held, shaking a collection bucket, or selling raffle tickets. Nick spent his life working tirelessly for the people of Palestine, and spent 4 months of every year travelling around the West Bank and Gaza and writing about what he saw and experienced. He and his wife Ursula organised trips for people to go there to help the Palestinian people, and they took in a Palestinian student to live with them so he could study in this country. Nick was one of those rare people - truly good and selfless, always wanting to help others but never seeking anything in return. What he did, he always did quietly and thoughtfully, and his death will be felt as a huge loss to many people. The Peace Cycle will not be the same without him, but we hope to continue in the spirit of Nick's compassion. The last message I received from Nick was to tell me of his intention, at the end of the ride to Jerusalem, to cycle back to the refugee camp in Jenin and to give his bike to a young boy he knew there called Hassan. I have since discovered that Hassan is a boy born with severe Spina Bifida, who Nick practically carried the length of the West Bank to take to a hospital in Jerusalem so that he could receive treatment for his disability. Nick raised the money to pay for the treatment Hassan received, and now he can walk and run with the other children. This is the boy Nick was going to give his bike to, and now the Peace Cyclists are planning to take Nick's bike to him in Nick's memory.

Laura Abraham
The Peace Cycle 2004