Rocker ‘Toon’ receives rapturous welcome as he arrives in Bangkok

Artiwara reached Bangkok via Thon Buri yesterday morning in his run that began in the border province of Yala, with his final destination in Chiang Rai province.
The talk-of-the-town charity run yesterday topped Bt422 million in donations as of now. According to the campaign’s website kaokonlakao.com, as of press time Artiwara had run 1,282 of the 2,191-kilometre marathon. The run is intended to raise Bt700 million in donations to buy equipment for 11 hospitals.
After reaching Bangkok, Artiwara went to Phra Mongkultkalo Hospital, one of the beneficiary hospitals.
Akkapol Siribud, one of 20 conscripts at Phra Mongkutklao Hospital sweeping the lawn of Phaya Thai Palace avenue to welcome Artiwara, said he was a big fan of Bodyslam.
“I would like to tell him ‘you are great!’,” said the Samut Prakhan native. He said one of his favourite songs was “Narika Tai”.
Arunee and Setthabodee Dokkaew, who are from Ubol Ratchathani province but work in Bangkok, were waiting since yesterday morning for their favourite artist.
“Both of us love Toon Bodyslam. For me, he is an inspiration for my life. Especially in the moment when I had a broken heart, his lyrics made me know that I should do the best in my life after breaking up with my girlfriend,” said Setthabodee, who works in customer service at a company on Bangna-Trad Road.
“Usually I listen to luk thung but I have been fascinated by Bodyslam’s songs. It is the lyrics of the songs, which encourage me and other fans. ‘Saeng Sud Thai’ supports me to be more hopeful in my life,” said Arunee, with tears in her eyes.
As the heartthrob rock star, together with a Nike team of more than 200 runners, passed the entrance of Phra Mongkutklao Hospital, he was welcomed by a medical cadet band playing the smash hit “Saeng Sud Thai”, as fans from Samut Prakhan, Samut Sakorn and Samut Songkram and students from Suankularb Wittayalai School sang the chorus. After that, he paid respects at the King Rama VI statute and received donations on a stage.
During his short stop, the band performed other Bodyslam songs such as “Wan Wai”, “Sia Dai”, “Kraam”, “Khon Thi Thuk Eak”, “Ngom Ngai”, “Narika Tai”, “Khon Med Tang” and “Arkas”.
After that, Artiwara continued running 1.4km through Victory Monument and entered Soi Rangnam on Phaholyothin Road before making his second stop and receiving donations at the Pullman Bangkok King Power Hotel.
Today Artiwara will take a break from running but he is expected to meet Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-Cha at Government House.
Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Prayut would contribute an unspecified sum to the charity run when the two meet as a gesture of his support for Artiwara’s “Kao Kon La Kao”, or “Take One Step Each”, campaign.
He quoted Prayut as expressing concern that Artiwara could be injured if he was interrupted during the run and there was still a long way to reach his destination.
Prayut wished the country had many more people who wanted to do good deeds for the country like Artiwara, Sansern said.
Prayut’s meeting with Artiwara will be held before the weekly Cabinet meeting, which had been rescheduled for today since Tuesday is a holiday. 
Tomorrow, the marathon runner will leave the five-star hotel on the way to his next stop at Siriraj Hospital to pay respects to images of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and his mother, HRH Princess Sri Nagarindra the Princess Mother. 
Along the way, Artiwara will run on Sri Ayutthaya Road towards the Dusit Palace Royal Grounds in order to worship at the Equestrian Statue of King Chulalongkorn Rama V and continue on Rajdamnoen Road to the hospital. 
Before leaving Bangkok, he and his team will run along Borommaratcha-chonnani Road and take a break at The Sense Pinklao.
On November 1, the rocker-turned-runner started the first leg of the 2,191km charity run to raise funds for 11 hospitals across the country. 
Thousands of ordinary people, local authorities and security officials have turned out to give him moral support. 
His plan is to finish within 55 days by December 25 in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district bordering Myanmar.