NAKHON PHANOM: Heartthrob actor-singer Pakin "Tono" Kumwilaisak is ready for his charity swim across the Mekong River to Laos on Saturday to raise funds for cash-strapped public hospitals, defying criticism and concern for his safety.
Tono and his team arrived in Muang district of Nakhon Phanom on Wednesday to prepare for his swim to Thakhek in Kammouane province of Laos and then back to Thailand, a total of 15 kilometres in the strong current. His actress girlfriend Nuttanicha “Nycha" Dungwattanawanich accompanied him to the northeastern province.
The 36-year-old plans to make the swim on Saturday, to raise funds for Nakhon Phanom Hospital and a hospital in Khammoune - under the campaign banner “One Man and The River”.
Writing on Wednesday on his official mootono29 Instagram account, which has 2.7 million followers, he thanked people for their donations. His campaign has so far raised 5 million baht.
The actor has received both bouquets and brickbats over his charity swim. His fans expressed concern for his safety because of the strong current in the Mekong River, while critics saw it as a burden on local officials who would be called on to assist him.
A single Facebook post that criticised Tono for being allowed to use the water flume facility at the faculty of sports science, Chulalongkorn University, on Saturday to test his stamina ahead of the swim was widely reported in Thai media.
The actor stood firm in his belief there would be no obstacles to his venture and saw swimming the Mekong River as a challenge. He was determined to achieve his goal - to raise funds for public hospitals in the two countries. (continues below)
Actor Pakin “Tono’’ Kumwilaisak and actress girlfriend Nuttanicha “Nycha’’ Dungwattanawanich were warmly received by residents in Nakhon Phanom as they arrived in the province on Wednesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
Tono and his team on Thursday joined local residents in collecting rubbish from along the river bank. Among them was Arom Wiangdan, chairman of the Nok Ped Nam club which organises water activities for health and hydrotherapy and tourism promotion.
The celebrity said he was physically and mentally ready for the Mekong swim. He shrugged off criticism as "normal", saying the important goal was to help medical staff who worked so hard. The river and weather conditions posed no obstacle for his swim.
Jeerawat Narongkitpanit, 63, a representative of Nok Ped Nam club, praised the actor for his worthwhile cause - to raise funds for public hospitals facing shortages of medical equipment. Importantly, it did not involve any state funding, he said. The money all came from donors and the swim would help boost tourism and the provincial economy, Mr Jeerawat said.
He said swimming in the Mekong River posed no risk to the actor. His club members had a lot of experience in organising river activities.
In 2020 Tono raised 2.5 million baht from his “One Man & the Sea” campaign, in which he and six others swam 82 kilometres in ocean waters off Surat Thani over 18 days before ending the campaign because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign sought to raise public awareness about the environment and the need to conserve the marine ecosystem.
The money raised was spent on equipment for veterinary hospitals treating rare marine animals.
Actor Pakin "Tono'' Kunwilaisak posts on his “mootono29’’ Instagram account on Wednesday to thank people for donating their money for his charity swim that has so far raised 5 million baht. (Photo: Tono's Instagram, mootono29)
The actor uses the water flume facility to test his strength and stamina at the Faculty of Sports Science, Chulalongkorn University, before taking on the “One Man and The River” on Saturday.