Rocker Artiwara "Toon" Kongmalai on Sunday handed over the 1.3 billion baht he raised on his cross-country run to 11 public hospitals - before setting off on a new run to help another hospital.
The Bodyslam leader handed over the money to directors of the 11 hospitals at Vachirabenjatas Park, better known as Rot Fai Park, in Chatuchak district.
The donations will pay for new medical equipment at the hospitals - Yala, Surat Thani, Ratchaburi, Chaophrayayommarat in Suphan Buri, Saraburi, Khon Kaen, Chaophraya Abhaiphubejhr in Prachin Buri, Chiang Rai Prachanukrho, Nakornping in Chiang Mai, Nan and Phramongkutklao in Bangkok.
The rock star garnered some 1.3 billion baht from the 55-day run that ended in December. The run began in the southernmost district of Thailand - Betong district in Yala - and ended in the northernmost, Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai. Donations to the campaign will continue until the end of May.
Toon thanked all donors and members of his campaign staff, saying they had raised awareness of the need to ease the workload of doctors, nurses and medical staff in all hospitals.
Toon Bodyslam (left) and auction winner Chukiat Srithongsathien give a pair of Toon's running shoes to Porames "Nong Mark" Poomporn, a boy from Surat Thani. (Photo by Apichit Jinakul)
Toon and Chukiat Srithongsathien, chief executive of Teddy Auto Sale Co, also gave a pair of his auctioned running shoes to Porames "Nong Mark" Poomporn as a gift during the event.
The businessman paid 1,234,567 baht for the sneakers and gave them to the boy for making a video that demonstrated how to take a selfie with Toon without obstructing him as he ran past.
Toon then joined about 2,000 runners in a 5km run inside the park to raise 4 million baht to buy two x-ray machines for Mai Kaen Hospital in Pattani.
The hospital asked the singer for help, saying its two old x-ray machines no longer worked properly.
A spokesperson for Toon said they could use not the money from the Betong-Mae Sai marathon to help the hospital in Pattani as it was not designated to receive the funds before the campaign began.
