Thanks a million: epic wheelchair campaign passes donations landmark

By THE NATION

 

 

A 55-YEAR-OLD wheelchair-bound Phitsanulok man, who is in the middle of a 1,400-kilometre wheelchair run from Songkhla to Chiang Mai to raise money for 48 schools for disabled children, continued his marathon journey from Samut Songkram’s Muang district on Wednesday.

 

Many residents lined the roadsides to cheer on and hand over cash donations to Sathit “Uncle Mhee” Chantharangsi, who is wheelchair-bound due to myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles and impairs breathing. 

 

During the section of his ride through the central province’s Mae Khlong Market on Wednesday, Sathit received a further Bt30,528. That means that so far the campaign – dubbed Pan Namjai Hai Nong Rongrian Panyanukul 48 Haeng Tua Prathet” (“caring for children at 48 Panyanukul schools nationwide”) to raise money and awareness of the difficulties faced by special-needs children -– has now raised a total of Bt1,028,757.

 

Each day of the journey, Sathit – who is accompanied by several runners – covers at least 30 kilometres in a difficult way: by a hand spinning of the vehicle’s wheels. 

 

He expects the entire journey to be completed by 40 days. 

 

He has been sleeping in his tent or staying over at schools or temples during his epic ride.

 

Sathit said he wasn’t a famous person so he didn’t know how much money he should expect to raise from this long-distance ride.

 

 

He humbly said that he just hoped that people found his campaign inspiring and would join his cause to help the disabled children.

 

This isn’t the first time the avid cyclist has done a long-distance ride in his wheelchair. 

 

In October 2016, he travelled 200 kilometres by wheelchair, from his hometown Phitsanulok to Bangkok’s Sanam Luang, to join other members of the public in mourning for His Majesty King Rama IX’s passing. 

 

Before this ride to Bangkok, Sathit had also ridden to the capital to sign his best wishes to the beloved monarch and also attended a “Bike for Dad” bicycle ride campaign to honour King Rama IX.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30349877

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-12

What a nice man. wishing you well on the rest of your journey.

Good job, 

  Another HERO go Mhee go.

Once again one extraordinarie person is going to show the world and the international leaders what the Thai people really can do when they stand united with the purpose of helping the ones in need.

That, at the same time as the system, authorities and leaders are cheering with a flase smile on the side. Although, they stand passive held in the thight and short leach of the upperclass elite.

Great job but it says he’s wheelchair bound but an avid cyclist . Not quite figuring that out ? 

Plus it shows the class difference in Thailand. One famous guy runs miles and the wealthy and hi-so are falling over themselves to throw millions at him for their gain or to say they gave , yet this humble guy busts his nut and the wealthy and hi-so are nowhere to be seen donating ! ?

A true hero raising money for schools for disabled children, a modest man who will not score so much on the Hi-So list as he is not one of them, which he acknowledges in his comment, good luck to the man and plenty of Chock Dee Mak  and long may he live to push his wheelchair in his quests, and raise donations for kids who mainly slip under the radar here and elsewhere in the world!