A crowd of about 3,000 people turned up for the Rotary
Charity Walk last Saturday. Through public and private sponsorships, the
event raised an estimated 500,000 baht to help children.
Decked
out in their Muay Thai outfits, these pugilistic youngsters did their part
to raise money for charity.
President of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, Alvi
Sinthuvanik said that the event was a great success. At press time they
were still collecting funds, but Alvi was confident that, “Most likely
we will reach our target of 500,000 baht.”
Funds raised at the Rotary Charity Walk, organized by
the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya, will go to help care for children born
HIV positive in Thailand, currently under Royal Patronage, and for other
local youth-help programs and projects.
Such
precision at such a young age - the marching band from Pattaya School #3,
fresh off their rousing performance at the Pattaya Mail PC Classic Royal
Cliff Beach Resort International Regatta 2002 the week before, entertained
the crowd at Pattaya pier after the Rotary Charity Walk.
The charity drive received a huge boost on March 6 when
local businessman Bruce Hoppe, on behalf of the Copeland Corporation,
donated 200,000 baht towards the charity cause.
The charity walk began on schedule at 4 p.m. Saturday,
March 16. Beginning at Pattaya City Hall, students from 10 Pattaya
schools, sailors and officers from Sattahip Navy Base, police, Rotarians,
community leaders and local citizens set off to tackle one of two courses,
the shorter being 3.7 kilometers and the longer being 8 kilometers.
The
Thai Navy Band from Sattahip led the procession and set the beat for
others to march to.
Both courses proceeded to Beach Road, down the
‘Walking Street’ section of the Amazing Thai Wisdom Fair, and
eventually finished at the South Pattaya pier in the heart of the fair.
The bustling crowd was then treated to fun and games,
prizes and music for an afternoon not soon to be forgotten.
A half dozen students became the first recipients of
the benevolent organization’s event at the after-walk ceremonies at the
pier. Three students received 5,000 baht scholarships, whilst three others
received 2,500 baht to go towards their education.
The
day was all about children - and these children surely enjoyed themselves.
The event was supported by the City of Pattaya, the
local TAT office, YWCA, PILC, Pattaya police, tourist police and Rotarians
from throughout the region.
Chonburi’s deputy governor Preecha Kamolbutr presided
over the opening ceremonies and banged the gong to set the walk in motion.
Rotary past district governor Prempreecha Dibbawan headed the list of
honored guests.
Copeland Corporation was the main sponsor of the event.
Other sponsors included Pattaya Mail, Bayer, Kings Seafood
Restaurant, YWCA, PILC, German-Thai Group, Breda Holland, Northern
Thailand Community Pattaya Members, De Brujia Group, Flamingo Resort,
Maharaja Tailor, Bruno’s Restaurant, Thai-German Institute, CIA Surin
Insurance Agency, Tropic Restaurant and Pattaya Language & Computer
School.
Literally
thousands of children and adults took part in the Rotary Charity Walk.
Duangdao
& Mongkol Chayasirisobhon have worked very hard to bring cultural
sophistication to Pattaya.
Royal
Cliff MD Panga Vathanakul thanks the opera stars for their great
performance.
