Anyone who had a heart
Celebrity cyclists join low-cost airline Nok Air in raising money for the Cardiac Children Foundation of Thailand
Thousands of bikers recently packed into Ancient Siam, as the Ancient City or Muang Boran in Samut Prakan is now known, to take part in the charity event, “A Kindness-Sharing Rally: Nok Air Cycling for Life 2013”.
The event, co-organised with the celebrity-led Life Cycling Club, was on the theme “Pan Wan Diew Thiew Thua Thai” (“One-Day Bike Tour of Thailand”), and invited cyclists to ride through the world’s largest outdoor museum featuring 116 structures of Thailand's famous monuments and architectural attractions. Outstanding works include the former Grand Palace of Ayutthaya (destroyed in the Burmese invasion of 1767), Phimai Sanctuary in Nakhon Ratchasima, and Wat Khao Phra Viharn on the Cambodian border.
The celebrity cyclists included Changnoi and Wista Kunchorn Na Ayuthaya, Sayam and Christina Sethabutr, Jarospan Savasdiwat Na Ayuthaya, Natchaya Krairiksh, Nayos Saothongyun, ML Rangsithorn Bhanubhand, Punyapat Thanomkul, Natthanin Kunathanat, Kan Ratanaporn, Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn, Akaranat Ariyaritwikul, Chol Wachananont, Pongpan Phetchbantoon, and Pimlada Chaiprechawit.
An unexpected downpour delayed the 3pm start but once the clouds had dissipated, bikers gathered into teams of four to take part in a game that involved taking photos of the four destinations named by Nok Air on twitter. The four were Flight DD8714: Bangkok-Chiang Rai, Flight DD8819: Bangkok-Nan, Flight DD9608: Bangkok-Buri Ram, and Flight DD9515: Bangkok-Nakhon Phanom.
After the game, the crowd gathered round the stage for a mini concert by Jirasak “Maew” Panpoom. He performed ballads “Lerk Ra”, “Moom Mued”, “Khon Khong Ther” and “Nak Thod Praharn” before surprising the audience with covers of popular of luk thung (country folk) songs, 3.2.1’s “Naen Oak” and Ying Lee Srichumpol’s “Khor Jai Ther Laek Ber Tho.”
Squeeze Animal was next on stage for a set that included “Mai Khoei Ja Hang Kan”, “Rak Loy Lom” and “Ror Rak”. Burin Boonvisut performed “Yud”, “Ther Thang Nan’, “Super Star” and “She’s Hot” while PP Project covered some foreign songs along with soundtracks of the TV series “Supap Buruth Jutathep”, drawing loud screams from the audience when actor Nathawut “Por” Skidjai appeared on stage to jam.
Nok Air chief executive Patee Sarasin and the Life Cycling Club joined up to wrap the event presenting Bt150,000 and Bt400,000 respectively to the Cardiac Children Foundation of Thailand.
