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Redemptorist Vocational School marks 10th anniversary of ‘Father Ray’s’ passing
People under the care of the
foundation from various centers prepare to donate blood.
Phasakorn Channgam
Pattaya’s Redemptorist Vocational School marked the 10th anniversary
of the death of founder “Father Ray” Brennan with a blood drive, festival
and awards.
Rev. Peter Pattarapong Srivorakul, president of the Father Ray Foundation,
presided over the Aug. 17 “Life for Life” blood drive for the Chonburi Red
Cross. The event was also held to commemorate HM the Queen’s Aug. 12
birthday.
Srivorakul noted the blood drive has been held for the past three years to
honor Rev. Raymond Brennan, who founded the Pattaya Orphanage and the
Redemptorist schools for the disabled and blind. “He gave the disabled a
chance to have a life and career to sustain themselves and their families
without being a liability on society,” he said.
Brennan passed away Aug. 16, 2003.
Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization President Wittaya Kunplome,
Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome and Father Ray Foundation Vice-President
Rev. Michael Picharn Jaiseri hosted the evening festival, lighting candles
to remember Father Ray.
Father Ray’s spirit looks over
the good-hearted people donating blood.
Booths sold food and the stage featured performances from
children under the care of the foundation and sponsors.
Srivorakul presented awards to the winners of the 10th anniversary writing
contest to amateur musician Nopawad Samanrak, who took home 50,000 baht.
Brennan was lauded in a stage performance that followed and the family of
Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay donated 22 wheelchairs worth 15,900 baht to the
foundation.
“Father Ray gave his life to helping the disabled and poor,” Jaiseri said.
“He should be considered as a role model with his beautiful heart, kindness
and sacrifice.”
Jaiseri also used the occasion to announce that the Father Ray Skills
Development and Education Center for Special Children - a project Brennan
never got to see fulfilled - will finally break ground next summer. The
Chonburi PAO, he said, has donated half the 30 million baht needed for
construction.
Amateur musicians Nopawad
Samanrak (left), and Manaswee Samanrak (center) accept the winning award for
writing the song, “Father Ray in our Heart”.
Also as part of the festivities, a dinner was held at the
Pattaya Orphanage with orphanage director Father Michael Weera and Human
Help Networks Thailand director Radchada Chomjinda hosting Father Ray’s
sister Sharron Brendan-Purtell and niece Amy Henderson, both from the USA.
At the beginning of the event, guests and children from the Orphanage and
the Home for the Deaf, gathered around the huge statue of Father Ray to
place flowers and sing the Father Ray song: “Unknown Hero”.
Nopawad Samanrak sings “Father
Ray in our Heart”.
A somber candlelight ceremony
caps off the activities in memory of Father Ray.
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Pattaya Sports Club and Nigel help Rakpuan to sleep easier
Only basic facilities at the home.
William Macey
The Camillian Social Centre in Bang Chang takes great care of children
living with HIV, but Pattaya Sports Club members are aware of only one centre in
the Pattaya area taking care of those that are beyond school age living with HIV
and, sometimes, TB.
When we first made contact with Ban Pak Rakpuan there were 15 people living in
two small, claustrophobic rooms with very little support. But 3 years ago, they
received the bad news that the owner wanted them to leave to enable him to do
other things with the land. Fortunately, they found 2 small houses, later to
become 3, in Nongprue which they could move to with their ever increasing
family. They now have 38 residents needing constant care and attention and,
thankfully, medication for HIV in Thailand is supplied free of charge by the
government.
Tents had to be erected.
The facilities at their new accommodation were very basic
with nowhere to eat or sit and the most recent problem confronting them has been
the fact that the houses are not sufficiently large to allow 38 people to sleep
and as a consequence, they not only sleep wherever there is space but have had
to erect tents, outside, to accommodate everyone.
PSC have been providing food and supplies to Rakpuan for some time now and we
were asked if we could possibly help to solve some of the problems. The
committee of PSC always relish a challenge so we recruited the help of our
friend Nigel Oakes and had an extension designed and built to side of the house,
together with chairs and tables, which provides protection against the sun and
rain when eating and offers a facility for them to sit and relax.
The only solution to the sleeping problem was to purchase bunk beds, thereby
doubling the sleeping area, and mattresses. The lorries arrived, the beds
erected and the tents quickly put away, hopefully, never to be used again. Many
of the residents had a good night’s sleep for the first time in many weeks. Life
is just that little bit easier now, although a little cramped, and those living
at Rakpuan are very grateful for the help of PSC and that of Nigel Oakes for
helping with their problems.
Nigel, PSC and some residents.
If you feel you would like to help Rakpuan with food or
funds, please ring PSC office - 038 361167 or William on 0861522754.
The bunk beds solve the problem.
Food is delivered regularly.
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Caring for kids who need safe shelter, scholarships for school
and special learning for the handicapped since 1998
Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drive 2013, Sponsored by Glencore International and Canadian ackalope Open
Shuttle buses to the fair will be
available on Sukhumvit Highway in front of Father Ray’s Foundation between Sois
36/1 and Soi 36. Look for the dark green wall and the oval red sign for Twinsap
Resort, as well as our recognizable, round yellow logos.
Lewis Underwood
JESTERS JOURNAL
There are 10 days left till our fair, which means we have started the final
countdown and continue to pour over our checklists. Despite the fact that we
have put on 15 fairs prior to this, each successive one is still a learning
curve. But then when you mix in a new venue, the learning curve is much greater.
It’s not exactly quite like starting over again, but definitely similarly
challenging.
However, the most important thing is to stay positive and that’s been easier
given the aesthetics of the new site, the amenities readily available, and the
concerted effort by all involved to succeed. Moreover, the faculty and students
have always been strong supporters of our charity drive, which helps
tremendously too.
Still having trouble locating our fair venue at The Regent’s School?
This year we have an adventurous
complex of nets, ropes and wood that will be set up in the shade under the trees
on the far side of the oval.
We recently discovered that part of the problem might be that
the many locals still refer to the school by its original name, ‘ISR’, or the
International School of the Regents. So now we are also including ‘ISR’, along
with ‘The Regent’s School’, when we refer to our fair site.
But then whatever you call it, the best landmark is the Banglamung (Pattaya)
Office for Motor Vehicle Registry, which is adjacent to the school. BTW this is
the same place that issues Thai driver’s licenses.
But again if you are not feeling venturesome, please catch one of our shuttle
buses north from Central Pattaya on Sukhumvit Highway in front of Father Ray’s
Foundation between Sois 36/1 and Soi 36. Look for their dark green wall and the
oval red sign for Twinsap Resort, as well as our recognizable, round yellow
logos.
The top prize for the grand
raffle at our Gala Party Night is a Honda PCX 150 donated by the Jesters.
New feature from Active City: Tree Top Adventure for the
children
We always strive to make the fair novel from year to year for the benefit of the
fairgoers. We do this by offering different attractions, activities and
entertainment whenever we can.
This year we have an adventurous complex of nets, ropes and wood that will be
set up in the shade under the trees on the far side of the oval. Included in
this activity will be climbing exercises through the maze and swinging along the
15-meter zip line. This activity is posted as ‘ideal for kids between the ages
of 3 and 10’.
For more info, please see http://www.activecity.asia/mobilesolution. This
activity has graciously been sponsored by Uni Gold Shipping Ltd.
Jesters Children’s Fair Stallholders’ meeting is on Monday, September 2nd
There will be a stallholders’ meeting at Jameson’s Irish Pub located at the Nova
Park Hotel on Soi 4 off Pattaya 2nd Road in Central Pattaya on Monday September
2nd at 7 p.m. Our fair site coordinator will disseminate information about your
participation at the fair and the do’s and don’t’ and elaborate.
Below is an outline of the points that will be covered:
1. Location: The Regent’s School Pattaya (ISR) on Hwy 36 next to the Banglamung
(Pattaya) Motor Vehicle Registry, where Thai driver licenses are also available.
2. Date: Sunday, 8 September from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
3. Entrance: Stallholders will have temporary access to the oval area on
Saturday, September 7th after the stalls have been set up around 4 p.m. for
those wanting to decorate their stall or drop off heavy items and again on
Sunday morning, the 8th, between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and after 6 p.m. on Sunday.
4. Traffic in the Oval: Will be one way in clockwise direction with parking on
the inner side (right hand) so traffic can flow on the outer (left side). Please
remember that NO vehicles are allowed on the grass whatsoever. In general, we
want to protect the grass as much as possible.
5. Parking: During the event, parking will be available mostly on both sides of
the school. Since the Motor Vehicle Registry Office is closed on the weekend,
there will be additional parking along the public road there. Please heed the
directives of the school’s security and parking attendants.
6. Gate Fee: 50 baht donation for adults. Children are free.
7. All Stalls will include: one 4 M x 4 M area - one rectangular table, two
chairs. Please do not take chairs and tables from other stalls. Also, one
electrical outlet is provided, but only for 3 amps. This is not sufficient for
running electrical appliances. Please pay special attention to hot cooking
utensil safety. Banners at your stall should be no larger than 0.75 X 3.50 M.
8. If you have not paid your 1500 baht for your stall yet, please do so as soon
as possible.
9. Only donated beer will be sold at the fair, so, please do not sell beer at
your stalls!
10. Children Coupons: These are for project children, so they can play games and
activities for free; coupons are NOT redeemable for cash.
11. Miscellaneous:
1. Please remember that there is NO smoking on the school grounds.
2. Please NO pets on school grounds.
3. There is no running water at the stalls.
4. There is no ice or change available at the fair.
5. Please bring trash bags to keep your stall tidy and clear all items at the
end of the event.
6. Please secure valuables at all times.
If there are any questions please contact our fair site coordinator at
089-930-3558.
Jesters Gala Party Night follows the Fair 13 days later
The second event is our Gala Party Night, which is on Saturday, September 21st
at the Amari Orchid Pattaya. This sit-down buffet dinner affair, which includes
complementary wine/beer, entertainment, auctions and grand raffle drawings, has
been a hit with our supporters.
Tables are filling fast, so if you would like to book a place the cost is 2200
baht and our contact is:
vicechairperson@care4kids .info.
For more information, please visit us at
www.care4kids.info or
www.facebook.com/jesterscare.forkids.
[email protected]
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Queen Sirikit Hospital
awards 61 scholarships
Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center Deputy Director
Vice Adm. Chumpol Thienchai hands out scholarships to children of government
employees and navy personnel.
Patcharapol Panrak
Queen Sirikit Naval Medical Center awarded more than 200,000 baht in
scholarships to outstanding Sattahip-area students.
Hospital Deputy Director Vice Adm. Chumpol Thienchai handed out the stipends to
children of government employees and naval personnel Aug. 22. Scholarships were
available to students with good grades, but low family incomes.
Hospital Director Rear Adm. Khanin Chumawornthayee said 50 of the 61
scholarships were given to government families while 10 were presented to
students in schools near the facility. The final scholarship was given to Maj.
Prachuab Boonprasit and his grandmother Suphattra Boonprasit.
The 214,000 baht in scholarships was split between 38 awards of 3,000 baht each
to Prathom students, 19 awards of 4,000 baht to Mattayom students, and four for
higher education worth 6,000 baht each.
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