Staff Reporters
The Royal Varuna Yacht Club was once again the
destination for 200 children from Pak Kred foster home on Thursday March
22, for their annual ‘Kids Day Out’.
A special day for everyone.
Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Bangkok South
rounded up disadvantaged children, their nurses, teachers, keepers and
the staff from their Pak Kred foster home, some 15 kilometres outside
Bangkok, and escorted the little ones to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club for
a day of fun and feasting at the seaside.
The event, now in its 11th year, received support
from Shrewsbury School, Walls, Oriental Hotel, Castrol, T&B Solutions,
Bartercard, TNT, Coca Cola, Walter Meyer & Family, local Rotary Clubs,
and of course the Rotary Club of Bangkok South and the Royal Varuna
Yacht Club.
The event organizer, Rotarian David Record, told the
press that this year they decided to give the children complete freedom,
meaning that they could either play games, have a splash in the pool,
relax on the beach and/or of course swim in the sea.
The joy on the children’s faces warms the heart.
150 adults, made up of Rotarians, teachers and
students, were on hand to ensure that the children were under constant
supervision and that the children had a most enjoyable, safe and
memorable trip to the seashore, one of the very few outings these little
people have during the course of a year. All felt the caress of the warm
south wind on their faces - many for the first time - and enjoyed life
like any child, anywhere - if only for a day.
Eckie the clown was there to entertain the little
ones who simply exploded in laughter at each and every well-rehearsed
routine.
The Oriental Hotel in Bangkok is just one of the many
sponsors that laid on a great spread of finger-licking delicacies to
keep the children’s tummies full and staff from Bumrungrad Hospital were
standing by to attend to minor injuries.
Fun and laughter were the order of the day.
Another swim, fun and games on the seafront grass
area, a last drink and finally, it was time to head for the buses
waiting outside the Varuna gates. The army of brave, cheerful little
people was wheeled, lifted, carried or managed to hobble to the exit, to
ease their way back to Pakkred, the only home they have ever known.
There were many moist eyes on the little - and not
just a few of the big - people as the buses pulled away. It was
difficult not to reflect on the vagaries of life: the innocence of the
Pakkred children who have been dealt a bad hand in the game of life, but
whose minds radiate an inner beauty which we, the able-bodied, would do
well to emulate.
They will be back again next March for the 2008 “Kids
Day Out” - the day at the seaside which - even if for only a day -
brings light and hope into lives severely limited by their physical
disabilities. For a number of the children, the seaside represents a
beauty which they can feel but not see, as they turn their faces to the
warmth of the south-westerlies which caress them for a while, before
they head back to their world of permanent darkness.
Thank you Rotary and Royal Varuna Yacht Club for
bringing joy into the lives of these unfortunates.
Each child receives special attention from fun-loving
and caring volunteers.
A fun day out for the children, and worth every minute
for the adults, as Marliese Fritz can attest.
“It’s right there! Can’t you see it?”
Eckie the clown was there to entertain the little ones
who simply exploded in laughter at each and every well-rehearsed
routine.
For a number of the children, the seaside represents a
beauty which they can feel but not see.
On this day the children enjoy life like any child,
anywhere - if only for a day.
Time for a meal, and to “ham it up” for the camera.
