Blind cyclists raise funds for vocational centre
A group of blind people will make an 867-kilometre bicycle ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai late this month to raise funds for an Asean vocational centre in the northern province.
They will ride on the back seats of 21 two-seated bicycles with sighted volunteers riding up front to guide their way, the chief of the Employment of Persons with Disabilities Department (EPDD) said.
EPDD director-general Somkid Somsri hosted a press conference at the Social Development and Human Security Ministry to announce the “No One Left Behind – Continuing Father’s Works” project.
He said he project would be conducted with cooperation from the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and other partners.
He said a group of blind people would take turns riding during the nine-day campaign.
The ride will start at Thammasat University’s Tha Phra Chan campus on January 28, then will pass Suphan Buri, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phrae, Lampang and Chiang Mai, where it will end on February 5.
Somkid said the campaign was aimed at raising Bt67 million for construction of a centre to teach vocational skills to disabled people.
People can donate Bt100 by typing “Y100” and sending an SMS to 4899666, or check for more donation channels at facebook.com/Universalfoundation.