Rock star Artiwara "Toon" Kongmalai Sunday handed over to 11 hospitals the first slice of the 1.3 billion baht proceeds he raised during his 2,215km charity run across the country last year.
Chaicharn Baimongkol, adviser of the "Kao Khon La Kao" (take one step each) project, said the hospitals received donations which had been raised as of Jan 31 this year to buy urgently needed medical equipment.
He said the public could still make donations until the end of May. After that the rest of the money would be handed over.
The 11 hospitals are Yala Hospital, Surat Thani Hospital, Ratchaburi Hospital, Chaophrayayommarat Hospital in Suphan Buri, Saraburi Hospital, Khon Kaen Hospital, Chaopraya Abhaiphubejhr Hospital in Prachin Buri, Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital, Nakornping Hospital in Chiang Mai, Nan Hospital, and Phramongkutklao Hospital in Bangkok.
Mr Chaicharn said the project would also donate four million baht which was raised from T-shirt sales to Mai Kaen Hospital in Pattani, which plans to buy X-ray machines.
The group held a handing-over ceremony accompanied by a 5km run event. Mr Chaicharn said it was an initiative of the rock singer who wanted to provide an opportunity for those who missed the 2,215km charity run to join in. It was also a chance for the participants to get together again.
The main run from Yala to Chiang Rai started on Nov 1 last year and concluded on Dec 25 last year.
Hospital executives met the project manager to discuss how money would be allocated. It was concluded the money would be spread based on the number of beds at each of the hospitals, which means some would receive more than 91 million baht.
