‘Toon’ hits Bt849m after Tak run

The rocker started the first leg of the day from the house of Dr Diew in Tambon Mai Ngarm Tak province and heading to the first stop at a Caltex service station 17 kilometres away. He was due to complete his fourth segment at a roadside resting place in Lampang’s Thern district, which borders Tak.
Team officials said that the mountainous terrain caused the runner to shorten the first lap to just 17 kilometres.
 Artiwara and his teammates were given moral support from local people who showed up to cheer them on throughout the day’s route.
As of yesteray, Artiwara had covered 1,790 kilometres, leaving about 400 kilometres to reach the final destination in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
People in some northern and northeastern provinces have organised parallel charity runs in their respective provinces to support Toon.
In Khon Kaen, home to one of the 11 hospitals eligible to receive funding from Toon’s fundraising campaign, more than Bt6 million was raised in a seven-kilometre parallel run organised on Saturday by the provincial administration and the residents.
Khon Kaen Governor Somsak Joengtrakul said that, since Khon Kaen was among the 11 recipients identified by Artiwara, it was appropriate for the province to show its support by organising it own fundraising run.
A crowd lined the seven-kilometre route to cheer the runners and make donations.
In Nan province, Governor Paisal Wimonrat led over 1,000 people and officials in a charity run and walk in Muang district.
Over a thousand people from all walks of life took part in the activity. Participants were able to choose from a 3.5-kilometre walk or a seven-kilometre mini-marathon run. Bicyclists could choose between three different 15-kilometre routes that converged at the Khuang Muang plaza.
Organisers said they organised the event not only to raise donations for the rock star’s charity run but also to encourage the people of Nan to engage in increased physical exercise to help prevent illnesses and lower state medical expenses. 
Donors contributed Bt2.2 million at the event. 
The cash has been handed to Paisal, who will forward it to the marathon-running rock star’s hospital aid project.