MCs rev up the crowd before
the race. (Photo by Tom Brown)
Sawittree Namwiwatsuk
It was another fun filled and exciting day on the streets of Pattaya,
when Rotarians and residents packed their families and friends onto
beds-on-wheels and whizzed down the streets of Pattaya at breakneck speeds
to help raise funds to support Rotary’s good work for the benefit of
underprivileged children in our community.
President
Wiwat Sirichatchai of the Pattaya Rotary Club welcomes everyone to the
event.
The action took place in front of the Avenue on Second Road on January 31,
when more than 2000 locals gathered at the carnival grounds which spilled
over from the plaza onto the street.
This extraordinary phenomenon was the 2nd International Bed race organized
by the Rotary Club of Pattaya.
The competition was divided into five categories, namely Fancy, Attractive,
United, Funny, and Fastest which saw 30 teams entering the race this year
showing off their speedster beds which were decorated in various shapes and
styles, from the simple to the most zany.
Each team consisted of six people, choosing the bravest one to sit on the
bed as the other five pushed the bed along the race course. Of course the
one on the bed hung on for dear life as the pushers went all out to be the
first across the finish line. Along the route it was a crazy sight as more
than one ‘patient’ flew off their beds landing into the gutter at the side
the road, only to climb back on and incite their team mates to push the bed
even faster than before.
Past
District Governor of Rotary International District 3340 Premprecha
Dibbayawan (left) presents the first runner-up trophy for the Fancy
category.
After a grueling race around the track it was the Sitpholek Boxing Studio
team who took the checkered bedsheet with teams from the Mercure Pattaya
Hotel and CTLS Language School slumbering in just behind it.
CTLS did take first place in the “Most Attractive” bed-racing team while
X-Zone Pattaya and the racers representing Boyz Town taking second and third
place.
Oversleeping and coming in last was the drowsy racers from Murphy’s Law.
Wiwat Sirichatchai, president of the Rotary Club of Pattaya said, “The
internationally inspired race is a great way to raise funds to support
children, elderly and disabled. We expect that after all the sponsorship
money is collected and accounts are collated, we should have raised well
over 400,000 baht from this event.
“It is part of Rotary’s continuing work to support society and to make
dreams come true for our kids.”
Past District Governor of
Rotary International District 3340 Jin Srikasikorn (right) presents the
winning trophy to the team from Sitpholek Boxing Studio.
No chivalry here: C’mon girls,
pick up the pace!
Diane Doell and her Mercy
Center team make
it to the finish line. (Photo by Tom Brown)
About now, the Cross Bay
swimmers wish they were
in the water instead of the heat.
The Samitivej Sriracha team
looks like they may
need an ambulance before the race is over.
Captain Jack and the Alcazar
team sail down the back stretch.
What? We have to go that way?!
The drowsy racers
from Murphy’s Law came in last.
Boyz Town - always colorful
and perhaps just a tad bizarre.
It’s all a walk in the park
for winners Sitpholek Muay Thai.
The whistle sounds and they’re
off!
Trophy winners, sponsors and
celebrities
gather for a group photo at the end of the day.
Thousands of spectators, and
miles of snarled traffic. (Photo by Tom Brown)
Sticky
rice for you…
Gathering
around the fire to watch over the cooking process.
US
Marines help repair the centre’s basketball courts, do some landscaping at
the children’s village and lay on a US-style barbecue for the children.
