British expat walks from Pattaya to Phuket
published : 13 Jun 2023 at 09:05
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Jo Ya Hsiung
British expat James Lee Valentine went on a 1,000km journey to raise money for children.
Valentine, 59, wanted to raise 1 million baht for Take Care Kids, a children's foundation based in Pattaya.
The walk from Pattaya to Phuket covered 1,050km. The 48-day walk ended on June 6.
Valentine's visit to Take Care Kids opened his eyes to the desperate situation faced by children at the hands of abusive families.
Himself a father of two, Valentine said he left the foundation that day distraught but was determined to do something to help the children.
Valentine raised 71,000 baht from a 33-kilometre Pattaya-Jomtien walk, which he gave to Take Care Kids.
After the Pattaya-Jomtien charity walk, Valentine said he knew more money would be needed to build a new foster home for the foundation.
So he set off from Pattaya to Phuket, for which he received 200,000 baht in donations.
During his walk to Phuket, Mr Valentine travelled along Sukhumvit Road, Rama II and Phetkasem Road, the main route heading South.
For most of the trip, the roads were not pedestrian-friendly. As well as narrow and uneven paths, he endured intense heat and physical pain.
People also offered him a ride, but he politely said no.
Learn from listening
Vocabulary
- abusive (adj.): involving violence - ซึ่งเป็นอันตราย, ทารุณ
- charity: involving giving money or help to people who are poor or ill, or who need advice and support - การกุศล
- desperate: extremely serious or dangerous - เต็มไปด้วยอันตราย
- distraught: extremely upset, worried or confused - จิตว้าวุ่น, ว้าวุ่นใจ, สับสน
- donation: money or goods that you give to an organisation, especially one that helps people - เงินหรือสิ่งของบริจาค
- foster home (noun): a place that takes other people’s children or pets for a period of time - บ้านที่มีผู้ทำหน้าที่เป็นผู้ปกครอง
- foundation: an organisation that provides money for things such as medical research or for a charity - มูลนิธิ
- intense: very strong - แรง, เข้มข้น
- pedestrian: a person who walks, especially in an area where vehicles go - คนเดินถนน, คนเดินเท้า
- politely (adv): in a way that shows good manners and respect for the feelings of others - อย่างสุภาพ
- raise: to increase the amount or level of something - เพิ่ม, ทำให้สูงขึ้น, ส่งเสริม, ยกระดับ
