Toon ploughs on amid chill, as he inches towards finish

By The Nation

 

 

Charity-run hero Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai continued his run in Chiang Rai amid thick morning fog in chilly 8 degrees Celsius weather, determined to cover the final 60 kilometres stretch on Sunday to reach the finish line by December 25 as planned.

 

So far Toon – who has been voted in a Bangkok Poll survey as the most admirable person of the year (83.5 per cent), overwhelmingly beating Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha (11.1 per cent) – has run for 42 days covering 2,134.73 kilometres. 

 

The donations he is raising for 11 public hospitals via the cross-country charity run since November 1 have amounted to Bt991,012,267 as of 7am on Sunday. 

 

Toon set himself the target of running from the southernmost tip of Yala’s Betong district to Mae Sai, a distance of 2,191 kilometres, when he embarked on the campaign.

 

He departed Pu Kaeng School in Chiang Rai’s Phan district around 3am on Sunday and was joined by famous Muay Thai kickboxer Corporal Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek along with some Thai celebrities. Toon appeared to be cheerful although he had just recovered from an injury that forced him to rest for two hours in the Mae Jai district of Phayao province the previous day.

 

Toon was cheered on by local residents who braved the winter chill and handed him cash for his cause along the way. 

 

He was warmly welcome by some 1,000 people at Wat Rong Khun, the first stop on the day’s first leg (Than Thong Wittaya School-Wat Rong Khun), where some 100 Chiang Rai Pracha Nukhro Hospital nurses and nurse students were also present to welcome him. 

 

Chiang Rai Pracha Nukhro Hospital, which will be among 11 hospitals that will benefit from the donations raised by Toon’s campaign, also saw its own personnel raising Bt300,000 from among themselves and the public, deputy hospital director Prakaikaew Kakham said. She said the hospital had also prepared a rite of Bai Sri Su Kwan to welcome Toon at Rai Chern Tawan in Muang Chiang Rai on Tuesday.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30334674

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-24

Good luck to the chap. There was quite a crowd gathered in Chiang Rai at King Mengrais statue to see him this morning...

A great effort, shame a few others who have some sway in the country don't follow his example and do something constructive instead of pouncing around like a good lot of fairies. 

Now he's raised over a billion baht. Jeez, what an effort! Go Toon go, you're gonna make it to Mae Sai tomorrow.

 

Standing by the road out of Chiang Rai, waiting for him to pass, quite a large crowd, "Little Miss JAG" and her gang are wildly excited!

Sent from my KENNY using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

Go Toon go !!!

Nothing but admiration for this fella !

Very well done 

‘Toon’ campaign exceeds Bt1 bn in donations

By The Nation

 

 

THE CHARITY run by Bodyslam frontman Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai hit more than Bt1 billion in donations yesterday afternoon.

 

As of 2pm yesterday, donations for 11 public hospitals benefiting from Artiwara’s cross-country charity run since November 1 amounted to Bt1,000,428,009.39 – well exceeding his initial target of Bt700 million. Artiwara – who was voted in a Bangkok Poll survey as the most admirable person of the year (83.5 per cent), overwhelmingly beating Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha (11.1 per cent) – has run for 372.24 hours over 42 days covering 2,139.9 kilometres, according to the campaign’s Facebook page www.facebook.com|/kaokonlakao. 

 

The rock star is now in Chiang Rai, inching towards the finish line in Mae Sai district just in time for Christmas. He set himself the target of running from the southernmost tip of Yala’s Betong district to Mae Sai, a distance of 2,191km, when he embarked on the campaign.

 

As Artiwara departed Pu Kaeng School in Chiang Rai’s Phan district at about 3am yesterday, he was joined by famous Muay Thai kickboxer Corporal Sombat “Buakaw” Banchamek along with other celebrities. He appeared to be cheerful although he had just recovered from an injury that forced him to rest for two hours in the Mae Jai district of Phayao province the previous day. 

 

Artiwara was cheered on by local residents in winter gear who braved the chilly weather to hand him money along the way. Many gathered near bonfires to warm themselves while waiting to greet the rocker, who is still nursing a shoulder injury. His team told people he had to refrain from signing autographs in order to not aggravate the injury. 

 

He was also warmly welcome by about 1,000 people at Wat Rong Khun, the first stop on the day’s first stage where 100 Chiang Rai Pracha Nukhro Hospital nurses and nursing students were also present to welcome him.

 

Outspoken national artist Chalermchai Kositpipat, who designed and built the temple with his own funds and donations, was not at the scene because he had to tend to business elsewhere, but he assigned a representative to donate about Bt1 million and a Buddha amulet to the runner.

 

Chiang Rai Pracha Nukhro Hospital, which is among 11 hospitals that will benefit from the donations, also saw its own staff raising Bt300,000 from among themselves and the public, deputy hospital director Prakaikaew Kakham said. She added that the hospital had also prepared a rite of Bai Sri Su Kwan to welcome Artiwara at Rai Chern Tawan in Muang Chiang Rai tomorrow.

 

The revered monk Phra Maha Vuthichai Vachiramethi, who has authored many books, wrote a poem titled “Wing Thudong”, or “pilgrimage running”, for Artiwara, which he will present to the singer tomorrow. The monk said he saw Artiwara’s charity run as similar to a monk’s pilgrimage, which required discipline and endurance, physical and mental stamina, and tolerance.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30334706

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-25

Hope Toon oversees how the money is spent as well.  Would hate to see his efforts tarnished.  Thailand desperately needs people like Toon

6 hours ago, yellowboat said:

Hope Toon oversees how the money is spent as well.  Would hate to see his efforts tarnished.  Thailand desperately needs people like Toon

Yes Toon should head a committee to supervise  how the money is spent. 

But I can see hospital administrators getting sticky fingers and  fiddling the books to steal the money that has been donated 

Thais are not noted for their honesty. In fact when a Thai does an honest act it becomes headline news. 

I was by the side of AH2 in Maechan at 6.30 this morning when they came through and I got a high 5 from

Toon , best xmas morning since I was about 12 yo  , I am 70 but he stopped for 2 secs , a great guy with a great heart .

 

Well done Toon - Legend

wow he is running 51 km a day without any break, even a the best runners in the world could do this, 1.2 maratons a day for 7 weeks. Thailand has the best sports people in the world. They should send their population to the olympics, they would win everything