Protection for little heads

Executives Pranithan Pornprapa and Visuth and Pornada Tejapaibul of Vespiario (Thailand), the importer of Italy’s Vespa and Piaggio scooters, recently unveiled the new Vespa 946 at a charity gala dinner at the St Regis Hotel Bangkok, which also saw an art auction to raise funds for the Asia Injury Prevention Foundation (AIP).

Among the guests at La Dolce Vita were Danish ambassador Mikael Hemniti Winther and his wife Rattanawadee, Poruethai and Nop Narongdech, Prakasit and Napassanan Pornprapa, Kan and Rujipa Adireksarn, Chai and Prim Bulakul and Nanthamalee Bhirombhakdi. 

The highlight of the evening was the auction of a white Vespa 946 painted by leading Thai artist Navin Rawanchaikul. The bidding started at Bt300,000, down from the regular price of Bt499,000, and A-list couple, Sorapoj Techakraisri and Sittichai Leeswadikul, finally won their prize for a cool Bt1.4 million.

“For us, apart from getting the opportunity to ride the Vespa 946 is that we get a chance to talk to Navin, whose works we have admired for a very long time. So, it’s great to share the experience with him. Moreover, we get to make merit for the kids as well. This is very worthwhile,” said Sittichai.

There was also an auction of artworks by such famous artists as Chalit Nakpawan, Namfon Laisuttruklai, Jitsing Somboon, Yannawit Kunchaethong, Sakwut Visesmanee, Vasant Phungprasert and Marco Evariati along with personal items belonging to celebrities including Anak and Pornchanik Navaraj, Raya Tejapaibul, and Praophan and Sarawut Laohapongchana.

Between them, the guests raised a cool Bt3.5 million from the auction and in donations. 

The Danish ambassadors wife, who also serves as executive director of AIP in Thailand, was delighted. “Recently, the fatalities from road accidents among children in Thailand is currently ranked number three in the world and is the highest in Asia because kids are not wearing helmets. Our safe journey campaign that promotes the wearing of helmets on the way to school is founded was launched to raise funds so we can provide helmets to these young people and also provide knowledge and to create discipline of safe riding among the kids, teachers, and families.”