A humble hero

By URISARA KOWITDAMRONG 
THE NATION 

 

 

Epic run for noble cause propels ‘Toon’ to nationwide acclaim.

 

THROUGH his 55-day epic charity run, Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai has transformed himself from a music celebrity into a national hero. 

 

Recent public surveys show Artiwara is consistently ranked as 2017’s most admired person in Thailand, whether “the most popular” or “Man of the Year” depending on how pollsters ask the question. 

 

 

One conclusion is inescapable – Artiwara, alias Toon Bodyslam, is no longer just a famous rock singer, but has become an inspiration seen as a dedicated and even great man in the eyes of the public. 

 

“I feel like I am in a dream,” Artiwara himself admitted after completing his months-long charity run in Chiang Rai province. 

 

The campaign was initiated by Artiwara to raise funds for state hospitals, with his marathon run starting on November 1 in Thailand’s southernmost province of Yala. When he completed his mission in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district on December 25, he officially became the first person to have run from the country’s southernmost border to its northernmost tip. 

 

 

The much-publicised run, which covered a distance of about 2,215.4 kilometres, exceeded expectations in several ways. 

 

For one, Artiwara initially hoped to raise Bt700 million, but by the end of the marathon donations exceeded Bt1.2 billion. 

 

“I’d never imagined that I could have come this far,” he said. 

 

Over the past two months, Artiwara also received non-stop media coverage daily and attracted new fans, expanding his support base massively. 

 

But what made the charity run exceptional was that it made Thai society recognise people’s power to make a difference. 

 

He has inspired others to also do good deeds and make contributions to society, in an ethic that might be expressed as every small step counts.

 

The momentum of the campaign has enjoyed a boost as celebrities such as Worachet “Chet” Empia, among others, also started charity runs to help Artiwara raise funds in provinces not included along his own route. 

 

And while many made donations, others promised to use hospital resources more efficiently, with an acute awareness of state hospitals’ budget constraints. 

 

 

When Artiwara first unveiled his plan to raise funds for state hospitals in an unprecedented run, many people openly questioned the idea, with some suggesting the campaign would fail to solve healthcare budgetary problems at their roots. 

 

The target of Bt700 million was considered a relative drop in the bucket given that the annual budget provided by the government to state hospitals in general was about Bt300 billion a year. Critics said they believed donations were not the right solution as relevant authorities should try harder to manage existing resources and ensure good healthcare. 

 

 

Artiwara was nonetheless determined to proceed, saying simply: “I will help where I can … I am more of a doer, not a talker.” 

 

Born in 1979 and growing up in Suphan Buri province, Artiwara later moved to Bangkok to further his studies. He enrolled at the prestigious Suankularb Wittayalai School where with fellow music-loving friends he formed the successful La-On band. 

 

After winning a well-known music contest for high school bands, La-On commercially released a few albums.

 

Although that band would later break up and Artiwara would later graduate in law at Chulalongkorn University, he never really left the music scene and in 2002 he and his friends founded the rock band Bodyslam. 

 

As a prominent presence in Thailand’s music industry for two decades, Artiwara was inspired to launch the recent charity run after completing a similar event last year, when he was invited to join the Prachuap Khiri Khan-based Bang Saphan Hospital’s charity run. In just 10 days, that running event raised Bt85 million. 

 

“I am not a professional athlete. I am just a singer who loves to run. But after the 2016 run turned out a success, several hospitals contacted me. So, I planned to do this cross-country run,” Artiwara said. “If you hold a concert to raise funds, you will have to cover many expenses and in the end hospitals may not receive much.” 

 

The singer chose 11 state hospitals as the recipients of funds: Saraburi Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital, Chaophraya Yommaraj Hospital, Nakornping Hospital, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Chaopraya Abhaiphubejhr Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Nan Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital and Yala Hospital. 

 

Most are large and relatively well-equipped, but Artiwara selected them because the facilities treat very  high numbers of patients. With better facilities at these institutions, more patients will benefit. 

 

Artiwara started his run in Yala’s Betong district on November 1 despite the continued insurgency in Thailand’s deep South with supporters lining his route ever since, offering cheers and donations. 

 

During the first weeks of his run, Artiwara often mingled with his fans, allowing them to take selfie shots with him, shaking hands and receiving warm hugs. 

 

He interacted with the crowds less in the following weeks after the continual stops and repetitive motions contributed to injuries that he accumulated along the way. Many people, for example, accidentally stepped on his feet during stops along the route. Such repetitive contact inflicted painful injuries for a man who had to run long distances almost every day and he was forced to make some brief stops to nurse the damage. 

 

Despite those hardships, however, Artiwara never complained, although he did admit at the end of his epic marathon that he had seen his mission as very daunting by the time he reached Prachuap Khiri Khan. 

 

 

“I sustained several injuries,” he said. “But fortunately, doctors and physical therapists helped me a lot.” 

 

He also thanked the members of his team for making his project a success and all Thais for their moral support.

 

“Without Thais, we would have not been able to reach Mae Sai,” Artiwara said at the end of his run. 

 

Far from claiming credit for his marathon, he insisted: “I am not a hero. The real heroes are dressed in white and work very hard at hospitals. After donations reach hospitals, Thais will be the beneficiaries.” 

 

 

In addition to the physical feat, that sense of humility has prompted a widespread recognition across the country with praise for Artiwara coming from all sides. Among his fans is Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who apparently holds no grudges after he was beaten by a wide margin in a recent poll on “the most admirable person” of the year. 

 

Suphan Buri authorities have also passed a resolution naming one local road as Artiwara and another as Kongmalai in his honour. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30334998

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-12-29

9 minutes ago, webfact said:

The target of Bt700 million was considered a relative drop in the bucket given that the annual budget provided by the government to state hospitals in general was about Bt300 billion a year. Critics said they believed donations were not the right solution as relevant authorities should try harder to manage existing resources and ensure good healthcare. 

The critics are correct that donations, though very welcome, aren't the best solution in having a proper health system. Let's hope that Thai leaders, both current and future, realize that this is a priority for the Thai people and budget accordingly.

 

Perhaps there is another lesson for leaders of Thailand, both current and future. Khun Toon managed to achieve both his goals and popularity through acting humbly and getting results. Something to ponder...

 

Well done, Sir!

Great guy!

Nothing but total respect for this young man.  

Amazing achievement I would have trouble running to the corner shop.

I shook his hand during his run past nakhon sawan and you could see in his face his immense kindness. 

Truelly a hero.

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Among his fans is Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who apparently holds no grudges after he was beaten by a wide margin in a recent poll on “the most admirable person” of the year. 

No grudge but plenty of desire.

 

I respect toon a lot for keeping his head down and getting on with his run for charity, and avoiding too much interaction or support from the authority figures who were at every corner to piggyback on the media storm.

Toon has an opportunity to right the wrongs of others and the man hugging the life out of him.  The man hugging him is desperately grasping, as per usual, for some sort of accolades.

 

Mr. Bodyslam is a beacon of hope for the average person in Thailand.

Edited December 29, 20178 yr by yellowboat

Great stuff and may he be blessed for his efforts.

  When it comes to stuff like this "Doctors without Borders" are for me fantastic people indeed.

How much of that 1.2b will go to the hospitals?

30 minutes ago, reenatinnakor said:

How much of that 1.2b will go to the hospitals?

Probably not much.

1 hour ago, yellowboat said:

Toon has an opportunity to right the wrongs of others and the man hugging the life out of him.  The man hugging him is desperately grasping, as per usual, for some sort of accolades.

 

Mr. Bodyslam is a beacon of hope for the average person in Thailand.

You are, obviously, a famous reader of human behaviour from, ehhhh, pictures?

 

studied law at Chula? never knew that. anyway, fair play to the guy. inspirational fella

All the wonderful superlatives have been mentioned and Toon’s affinity with the common people shined right through

his epic run. He is like a common man hero and have the intelligence to avoid either the military or political overtures. My advise to this young man is stay away from politics. Common man hero wouldn’t sit well with the establishment. Two have fallen for being popular with the marginalized segment of the society. Toon must use his intelligence well and use his new found fame for charity work. 

Well done!  However I am surprised he wasnt run over by a pickup or bike considering Thai drivers!

I was a roadside admirer of this guy outside of Chiang Rai. Quite overwhelmed by his achievements and have nothing but total respect for his character. 

Having said this I think the real beneficiaries of his effort has been Phrayut and his cronies. Nothing like national fervour to add legitimacy to his position as self appointed PM. 

Economically it may have been a lot cheaper for the government to simply cough up an equivalent amount as Toon spent 55 days bringing traffic to a standstill as he ran the length of the country. How much extra fuel was wasted? How much productivity was lost? And how much did it cost to fund and protect this venture?

As someone previously stated this is not a sustainable way to fund a national health system and the government needs to recognise this. 

Well done Toon you are an asset to Thailand but I hope others don’t steal your achievements and convert them to political opportunism. 

 

Three cheers.....

A worthy cause indeed and well done Toon! I am very pleased that once in a while we expats can pass on our good wishes and praise. Let's hope he inspires others to follow him.

4 hours ago, reenatinnakor said:

How much of that 1.2b will go to the hospitals?

Toon needs to put an administration cost on the donations, I think his plans are just to divide all money between the 11 hospitals, notice how the gov. tried to belittle his effort by saying how much they pay.

Don't think too much guys, listen to his words,  he is a doer not a talker,  his remarkable effort and achievement is worthy of every accolade he receives, and rightly he has mentioned those that were alongside supporting him on his journey. The Thai people shine with their support and generous donations to such a worthy cause.

 

Thank you Toon for making this possible.

Nice guy indeed but the main worry is the 1 billion Baht.

Forrest Gump  - thai version.

4 hours ago, TKDfella said:

A worthy cause indeed and well done Toon! I am very pleased that once in a while we expats can pass on our good wishes and praise. Let's hope he inspires others to follow him.

Start with the wealthy families who give negligible amounts.

5 hours ago, johnarth said:

Toon needs to put an administration cost on the donations, I think his plans are just to divide all money between the 11 hospitals, notice how the gov. tried to belittle his effort by saying how much they pay.

Just imagine the amount that the government could have given to the public hospital system had all that money not been wasted on that bloody white elephant aircraft carrier and the damned useless submarines!! General P should hang his head in shame over the governments neglect!!

This is understated. Toon was watched world wide and earned greater respect than any other person on the international scene. And after this run he has a chance to use his voice, if done with the wisdom that he surely possess, to do more good for Thailand and the people. Man of the Decade. Humble, dedicated, and focused.

On 12/29/2017 at 9:24 AM, dotpoom said:

Great stuff and may he be blessed for his efforts.

  When it comes to stuff like this "Doctors without Borders" are for me fantastic people indeed.

Yes, I remember years ago my hand surgeon in Newport Beach CA could not see me for several months I discovered he was in South America performing cleft palate surgeries for the poor for free via Doctors Without Borders. 

  

Reminds me of a portion of a Roger Waters song, "And a doctor in Manhattan,  saved a dying man for free" from "It's a Miracle" on his "Amused to Death" album. A truely meaningful social musical work.