On Sunday, a caravan of blind cyclists will attempt something arduous: biking from Bangkok to Chiang Mai on a nine-day charity trip.
"We had a test of 20 blind cyclists and initially wanted to select just 10 for the project," said Wiriya Namsiripongpun, president of the Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities. "But no one wanted to be left out, so there will be 20 bicycles going on the 867km journey."
The project, called Kao Pai Mai Thing Kan, or No One Left Behind, will attempt to raise funds for the construction of an Asean training centre for the disabled in Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai province.
"The centre we have now in Mae Rim has a limited capacity, and is insufficient for training the disabled to acquire skills necessary for making livelihoods," said Wiriya. "The foundation would like to expand it, and to transform a burden into a strength through the new centre."
After Artiwara "Toon" Kongmalai's cross-country run sparked a national donation frenzy, Wiriya believes the people will realise the importance of a charitable cause. In fact, the president would like Artiwara himself to join the trip, even for just one section.
How can a blind person bike, and for 867km to boot?
Each blind cyclist won't be alone, according to Wiriya. The trip will rely on tandem bicycles, with an able-bodied person in the front and a visually impaired cyclist in the back, and together they have to synchronise their rhythm in order to move forward. The volunteers who will take the front seats have been training with their blind partners for months.
"For instance, the cyclist in front will shout directions and signal other technical details, such as gear changes and speed, and the blind cyclist has to work in harmony with them," said Wiriya. "This is a perfect metaphor for our project, No One Left Behind, since they have to go together."
This phenomenon -- a group of visually impaired attempting a long road trip by bicycle -- is exceedingly rare, almost unheard-of. The route begins on Saturday in Bangkok, then proceeds to Suphan Buri, Chai Nat, Nakhon Sawan, Phitsanulok, Uttaradit, Phrae, Lampang, and finishing in Chiang Mai on Feb 5. Each day the cyclists will cover around 100km and will stop at a pre-designated hotel along the way.
Cyclists, disabled or not, are welcome to join the caravan en route.
Thailand has around 1.8 million disabled, or 2.72% of the population, and around 600,000 are unemployed or uncared-for. They often lack access to job opportunities and welfare, said Wiriya, and especially lack skills for working to support themselves. The Universal Foundation for Persons with Disabilities wishes to empower the disabled and encourage them sustain independence.
For more information about the project and to donate, see the Facebook page Universalfoundation, or visit www.wiriya.org.
