Overzealous ‘Toon’ fans warned not to disrupt runners after star hurt
FANS have been asked not to disrupt rock star Artiwara “Toon” Kongmalai’s running group to take selfies with the famous singer – as doing so could injure him |and hamper his efforts to maintain a steady pace during his 2,191-kilometre fundraising run.
As of 3pm yesterday, the fifth day of the run, the 38-year-old musician had already raised Bt78,265,295, according to the event’s Facebook Page.
The page also posted recommendations for how fans should record the event and take snaps with Artiwara, who is said to have sustained an ankle injury. It urged people to record the event in video mode and queue at designated pit stops if they wanted to take pictures with him.
It also advised against people suddenly cutting into the running group to take souvenir shots – the same advice that was echoed by many popular social media pages, such as EJeab, Drama-addict and Every Bodyslam.
Artiwara, who fronts the band Bodyslam, hopes to raise more than Bt700 million from his epic run from Thailand’s southernmost point in Yala’s Betong district to the northernmost tip of the country in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, from November 1 until December 25.
Hospitals receiving donations from this campaign under the banner “Kao Kon La Kao”, or “Take One Step Each”, are Yala Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Chao Phraya Yommarat Hospital, Saraburi Hospital, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital, Nan Hospital, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital and Nakornping Hospital.
Artiwara ‘s goal yesterday was to reach Songkhla’s Thepa district by 6pm. He was previously scheduled to rest yesterday but decided to continue running to make up for lost time after he had fallen behind due to being slowed down many times by people’s requests to take pictures with him along the way.
During a pit stop in Pattani on Saturday afternoon, Artiwara’s ankle injury forced him to ride in a car to Ban Yang Daeng school in Khok Pho district, where he donated sport equipment and scholarships to students.(facebook.com/ejeab/) (facebook.com/DramaAdd/) (facebook.com/everybodyslam/)