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And what a night it was

Dr Chatri provides PCEC members with important information about HIV

Häfele ‘road show’ hits Pattaya with new products, free BMW

And what a night it was

Care for Kids charity drive winds down with Jesters Party Night

Lewis Underwood
While most of us were home sleeping during the wee hours last Saturday morning, recharging for the Jesters Party Night coming up later on that day, Erik and Robert were already up and riding through the darkened empty streets of Trat. Their part in the final event of the Jesters Care for Kids Charity Drives is a vastly different one from the rest of us. They were about to embark on a 276 km ride to Pattaya on their pushbikes. Yes that’s right, on bicycles, not motorcycles!

Moo (left) from Jameson’s hands over Kim Fletcher’s mum Edna Harrisson’s 100,000 baht Platinum Sponsorship to Lewis Underwood (center) as Bernie Tuppin (right) looks on.

Erik and Robert have been doing this since 2001. That is, they have been riding their bikes on these marathons annually to raise money for our charity drive. In fact, over the last 9 years, these magnificent guys have pedaled over 2000 kms while raising over 3.5 million baht for the needy kids along the way.
One of their main concerns before embarking on their rides still remains the weather.
Generally, they prefer dry, but cloudy conditions, kind of like how we like it for our Fairs. The last thing they want is unrelenting sunshine. But what lay in wait for them this year though came from the other end of the spectrum: savage downpours spurred on by lightning getting way too close for comfort.

Poodle Peter and Jeff Paladeau keep things lively during the auction.

Meanwhile, we were sitting high and dry in Jameson’s when Robert called to give us an update late in the afternoon from Ban Chang. It was hard to hear him over the din of the pouring rain, but it was easy to discern their tale of misery: they were soaking wet and chilled to the bone. We knew they would take a break there to dry out and revitalize, and then probably arrive at the pub a bit late.
Paul Jackson, compere for the Party Night at Jameson’s, was just warming up the crowd sometime after 6 p.m. and talking about the evening’s program when Erik and Robert nonchalantly walked in. We were stunned! I mean they were way earlier than expected. But then, such is the stuff of these intrepid riders; when the going gets tough, the tough pedal harder.

A surprising 148,950 baht worth of Grand Raffle tickets were sold on the evening.
With the pushbikers back home and safe, it was time to start the party. Bob Philp from the Outback Bar and Jeff Paladeau took over the proceedings and got the auction up and going. Each auctioneer did 10 lots followed by a break, alternating with each other. Poodle Pete in his inimitable way was everywhere, front and center displaying each auction item from and then wending through the crowd so potential bidders could get a better look.
As usual the auctioning of items provided most of the entertainment for the evening, especially given the animated auctioneers and the enthusiastic bidding that ensued.
The items fetching the highest bids on the night were:
* Chelsea Football shirt (30,000 baht)
* Led Zeppelin’s ‘The Song Remains the Same’ CD signed by Jimmy Page (27,000 baht)
* Ursula’s 19th century Chinese cabinet (27,000 baht)
* Man United signed ball by team (22,000 baht)
* Jean Beliveau signed Canadiens NHL jersey (21,000 baht)
* Chickenfoot signed CD for 20,000 baht
By the end of the evening, the 61 auction items bid on garnered 537,500 baht. This is a sensational result and we appreciate your vigorous bidding!
With the auction items done and dusted, we prepared for the Grand Raffle drawing. After some last minute feverish flogging of tickets by Sunkan, we asked Sister Joan from our target charity, the Fountain of Life Center, to come up and draw the lucky numbers.
The first 12 numbers were drawn from the top prize down and were announced publicly. The rest of the numbers were drawn too but recorded offline. All 47 winners appear here, along with the successful auction bidders. The same info is also posted on our website: www.care4kids.info. Grand Raffle prizes can also be picked up at Jameson’s. Please bring your winning ticket.
A surprising 148,950 baht worth of Grand Raffle tickets were sold on the evening to bring the overall figure of ticket sales to 298,435 baht. These funds raised from the Grand Raffle and auction are very important for funding those beneficiaries, besides the Fountain of Life Center.
After figuring everything taken in and committed so far this year, we announced an off-the-cuff total of 6,769,847 baht. This total takes into account all sponsors, both cash and in kind, as well as those not yet collected. The figure above will be reconfirmed as soon as everything is settled up.
In the meantime we would sincerely like to thank all of you for this absolutely wonderful result! Given the bleak economic situation, this outcome has greatly exceeded our original expectations this year.
We would especially like to thank our Diamond Sponsors, or 400,000 baht donors, Glencore International, Canadian Jackalope Open and the Herrod Foundation for headlining our charity drive this year. Moreover your continued support means the world to us.
The best part about this spectacular result is that the needy kids will ultimately be the real winners.

Poodle Pete was kept busy circulating auction items throughout
the room as Bob Philp (right) called out the auction.

With engines rumbling, it’s not difficult to tell when the Jesters roll onto the scene.

Dr Chatri provides PCEC members with important information about HIV

Master of Ceremonies Gary Brown welcomed everyone to the regular Sunday meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club on September 13 at the Amari’s Henry J. Bean’s Restaurant. After the usual announcements, Gary called on fellow member Gavin Waddell to introduce the guest speaker from Phyathai Sriracha Hospital. He also mentioned that Gavin had brought a nurse from the hospital who was giving free blood pressure checks in the back alcove.

PCEC member Gavin Waddell, also of Phyathai Hospital Sriracha, introduces Dr Chatri Siriwattanarungsri, MD, a specialist in HIV and respiratory diseases.
Gavin, who works in the hospital’s International Department, first advised everyone about the current promotions being offered by Phyathai Sriracha Hospital before calling on Doctor Chatri Siriwattanarungsri, MD, to address the meeting.
Dr. Chatri is a specialist in HIV and respiratory diseases and works in the Thai social security benefits department of the Hospital. Dr. Chatri earned his medical degree from Mahidol University and has studied in the USA.

In one of the best visual presentations PCEC members have seen, Dr Chatri outlined the means of infection and replication of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
Dr. Chatri said that his talk would be about HIV, its history, risk groups, early treatment, and today’s antiviral treatment. He pointed out that the HIV virus was discovered in 1981 and the term “AIDS” (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) was coined in 1982. No one knows where this virus actually came from although there has been speculation that it came from Africa. However, the HIV in Africa is Type II whereas in Thailand, it is Type I; but he said, there is really minimal difference between the two types.
Dr. Chatri said the first case in Thailand was diagnosed in 1984 and the Thai FDA approved the first HIV test in 1985. Initially, the thought was to eradicate the virus, but it is now recognized that with the current available therapy, eradication is not possible. So, today, the emphasis is on prevention and reducing the death rate among those infected.
With the use of several diagrams and charts, Dr. Chatri explained how HIV infects the cell structure. He noted that because of permutation of the HIV cells, developing a vaccine against it is extremely difficult. Currently, antiviral medicines are used to slow the effects of the virus, thus extending the life of the infected patient.

Long time member Gary Brown, now retired to Florida but just back for a short holiday, emceed the meeting, and here shows the topic he will present as speaker on the 20th of September; Thailand’s delicious tropical fruits.
Dr. Chatri emphasized that if you think you have been exposed to HIV you should tell your doctor. Recently, medication has been developed that is effective if administered within a short period of exposure to the HIV virus. These PEP (Post Exposure Prophylaxis) medicines need to be administered within 72 hours to one week of exposure. Further, to be effective, they must be taken daily for one month - if even one dose is missed, it will negate the treatment and continued dosage would no longer be effective.
He described the various symptoms of HIV infection such as lethargy, fatigue, rashes, and fever. Generally, testing will not reveal the HIV virus within the first 12 weeks after being exposed. If one thinks they have been exposed, they should be initially tested and then again in about 6 months if the first test is negative. Although a test will detect the virus, it often will lie dormant for up to 10 years before the onslaught of HIV type diseases. With today’s antiviral medication, a person infected with HIV can live 15 to 20 years with the virus. Dr. Chatri did point out that some Caucasians that have a CX or CTR-5 gene may become infected, but never succumb to the diseases associated with the infection.
Dr. Chatri noted the different ways the HIV virus can be transmitted such as unprotected sex, exchange of needles among drug addicts, from an infected mother to a newborn child, and blood transfusion. Dr. Chatri said that today, safeguards have substantially reduced infection by blood transfusion. He also explained that in having unprotected sex, why a male has a smaller chance of being infected from an HIV infected female then a female does from an infected male.
After Dr. Chatri answered many questions from the audience, Emcee Gary updated everyone on upcoming events and then called on Richard Silverberg to conduct the always informative, interesting, and sometime humorous Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about living in Thailand and Pattaya in particular.

Häfele ‘road show’ hits Pattaya with new products, free BMW

Phasakorn Channgam
The Thai subsidiary of German furniture and fittings manufacturer Häfele brought its nationwide “road show” to Pattaya to appoint new sales agents, present awards, show off new products and offer a glimpse at the BMW sedan the company will give one lucky customer next month.

Thai classical dance is an exciting part of the entertainment.
Häfele Thailand Ltd.’s seminar at the Asia-Pattaya Hotel saw more than 100 people from 40 sales outlets attend. Sessions focused on the best ways to present Häfele’s offerings and assist customers. Executives introduced a 7m mobile showroom touring Thailand as part of the units Thailand road show.
About 120 of the company’s best sales agents were also able to see new products and the event featured quizzes and games to keep their attention throughout the day.
While the parent company has been in business since 1923, the Thai unit is celebrating its 15th anniversary. As part of the celebration, customers through the end of next month will receive tickets with each purchase giving them a chance to win a BMW 525i. There will also be a four-day party at the South Pattaya office from Oct. 21-25.
Sales reps took a peek at the car at the seminar before attending a party at the Clifftop Seafood Pavilion where a number of prizes were handed out.

(Left to Right) Volker Hellstern (left), managing director of Häfele (Thailand), and Charly Geser (right), general showroom manager welcome guests to the party.

One lucky customer will win a BMW Series 525i.

Häfele has a 7m mobile showroom touring
Thailand as part of its Thailand road show.

Company representatives show potential sales people the company’s products.

Half the inside of the mobile showroom is dedicated to kitchen hardware.


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