Sithipong Wuthisaekkrit (2nd
left) and club members cheer on
the Singh Sam-ang MC’s 3rd Anniversary.
Manoon Makpol
A second motorcycle club has come to the aid of a family
of five trying to build a new home whilst stricken with severe health
problems.
Singh Sam-ang, a 50-person club founded three years ago
by Sithipong Wuthisaekkrit, adopted the Sakolyuth family as one of its
nationwide “ride for peace” projects, which also includes raising funds to
repair roads to rural schools.
The family of elderly parents and three grown daughters
all suffer ailments ranging from lung cancer to cystic fibrosis to kidney
disease. Impoverished, they were evicted from their home in March, but an
unnamed landowner near Nongket Yai came to their aid, offering land to rent
at 15,000 baht. The family says they still need 45,000 baht to build a new
house.
Despite numerous appeals to the media, handouts have been
slow in coming, due partly to one daughter’s decision to borrow money from a
loan shark and another’s plan to start a lottery-ticket business. But a few
people, and two motorcycle clubs, have donated a few thousand baht.
Singh Sam-ang heard of the family’s plight and organized
activities to help raise money.
More than 200 people turned out for a May 12 club
anniversary celebration in Pattaya, blessing the riders and seeking advice
on motorcycles. The club joined with the local Ace Motorcycle Club to help
raise funds for road repairs, something the Singh Sam-ang members know well
about the need for.
Sirhipong said the club continually tours Thailand and
has encountered more than a few obstacles, ranging from flat tires to bike
breakdowns to problems with finding replacement parts for old bikes. But, in
the end, its worth it to bring happiness and harmony to people with their
fund-raising efforts, he said.
Bikers read about the
Sakolyuth family’s plight in the Pattaya Mail.
The event gets underway with a
message from our leader.
Check out my supped up bike!
A dance troupe of young boys
provides the stage entertainment.
Chai yo! Happy 3rd
anniversary.
The event draws dozens of
family and friends.
