The Annual Sponsored Bike Ride has become one of the most popular events in the Jesters Charity Drive for the Fountain of Life.

Started by Paul Baker in 1998 it was a two legged (no pun intended) affair that started on the Friday at Ronnie’s Camel Bar in Ban Chang, then after an overnight stop rolled into Pattaya finishing at Delaney’s (for those of you with long memories will remember that’s what Shenanigans used to be called).

The following year it was decided to hold just a one day event with a 25 kilometres plus a 50 kilometres event with over 100 riders. This was considered a great success, starting and finishing at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort. Paul’s only decision was to start and finish the event the following year somewhere without ‘cliff’ in the title.

Two of Pattaya’s “top cyclists”, Kim Fletcher (right) and Jack Levy (left) scream along the route of last year’s Sponsored Bike Ride

So on to the third year and the Amari Orchid Resort was the new setting off point with nearly 200 riders of all shapes and sizes peddling off into the distance around Siam Country Club, raising over 500,000 baht for the children of the Fountain of Life.

This year the start of the ride has been moved to the wonderful venue of the Siam Bayshore Resort in South Pattaya. With a huge leap forward being made in that the event will be sponsored this year firstly by “Thai Thanakit Insurance” who will be providing all the refreshments, route signs, medical facilities, etc., and by “Coats” who will provide each rider with a commemorative T-shirt. There will again be two routes, one of 25 kilometres and one of 50 kilometres.

Sign up of 300 baht per rider will be at the Siam Bayshore Resort, Beach Road. All riders will be asked to wear their sponsored T-shirt to show support for the sponsors, and although B. 300 can come out of sponsorship, B. 300 must be paid on the day, so come prepared.

Entry forms and sponsorship forms can be picked up from Shenanigans, Tahitian Queen, The Blue Parrot, Sixties Bar, Dusit Resort Fitness Center and the Siam Bayshore Resort or download the forms from the website at www.care4kids.freeservers.com

So everybody, what a great way to get fit and raise money for the kids, get on your bike and ride, or for those of you less energetic, find somebody else who is riding and sponsor them! Do it now!

PEACH (Pattaya Exhibition and Convention Hall) was recently presented with the ISL Best Seminar Service Award in recognition of its high standard of service by International Seminars Limited. The award was presented at the end of the seminar that ISL held at PEACH.

Tyon Murtagh, managing director of ISL (far left) who presented the award to Panga Vathanakul, managing director of PEACH (7th left). Also pictured are Andrew J. Wood, general manager of the Royal Cliff Beach Resort (2nd from left), Ross Ferguson, resident manager of PEACH (4th from left) and other members of the PEACH sales and operations team.

International Seminars Limited is an international organization based in Vanuatu. It provides financial advice and consultation, holding an offshore seminar every 3 months. ISL has conducted its seminars in numerous locations throughout Southeast Asia, but this is the first time that they decided to present an award that is meant to recognize the exceptional service at the venue. ISL first utilized the services of PEACH in mid-2000 and returned this year for two successive sessions.

“We are particularly proud of this award,” says Ross Ferguson, resident manager at PEACH. “I’ve worked in this industry for a long time and this is the first time in my experience that a client decided to bestow an award for best service directly after an event. This award means a lot to us, because it comes directly from the customers in appreciation of our work.”