To mark the 10th anniversary of the tsunami, 130 Australians and New Zealanders are cycling across Thailand to raise 35 million baht for destitute children from six sites run by the Duang Prateep Foundation.
Scott Evans, director of Hands Across the Water, an Australian charity, said 30 cyclists are riding 800km from Bangkok to the Northeast and 100 will start the 800-km Prachuap Khiri Khan-Phangnga-Khao Lak route from Wednesday until Jan 22.
"They should be able to solicit as much as 35 million baht from this ride to build youth hostels and provide food and clothing to children at risk," Mr Evans said.
Peter Baines, a former forensic science officer with the Australian police who spent six months identifying and repatriating bodies and helping families of those killed in the tsunami in southern Thailand, founded the charity in 2004.
From 2006, Hands Across the Water solicited 270 million baht to support not only tsunami-affected children but also those at risk in nearby communities.
Prateep Ungsongtham Hata, founder of the Duang Prateep Foundation, said at least 80 children in Chumphon and Kanchanaburi provinces receive scholarships from the Australian charity each year.
"Children can do study tours to Australia and New Zealand. With scholarships from kindergarten up to higher education, 11 are studying in Thai universities and one has graduated with a law degree," she said.