A combined effort from the Chiang Mai Hash House Harriers,
that funny group of drinkers with a running problem, realized some great
dividends recently, and local charities in Chiang Mai have become the
beneficiaries.
In the not too distant past, Chiang Mai hosted the large
Mekong / Indochina Interhash event, and planned to use the funds raised at
the event to do charity work, should the event indeed realize a profit. It
did. In fact it’s in the 200,000B range and all of it will be given away.
(Back
row from left) Stephen Lewin, R. Field and Peter “DC” van Loo from
Chiang Mai Hash House Harriers last Monday donated computers and equipment
to the Anusarnsunthorn School for the Deaf. Teachers at the school,
Pimonporn Jansomdee, Urai Kuson and Yaowanit Mintian, as well as some of the
students shown here, were quite excited to receive the donation. The
benevolent Hashers have more donations planned in the near future and invite
any and all Hashers to join the fun.
“I can’t say how happy I am that the hash is now able
to give something back to a society that has been mainly friendly towards
us. If you hear other hashers’ stories sometimes it can be different,”
said Peter “DC” van Loo, ex-chairman of the Mekong / Indochina Chiang
Mai 2002.
“We have already donated money towards the foreign
cemetery for some people who didn’t have the possibility of a proper
burial or gravestone,” Peter added.
The other events will be:
-The school where John (HH) and Chim (Cricket) used to
donate will get goods for 30,000B.
-The hilltribe project for farmers initiated by the abbot
of Wat Koo Tao will get farmers tools 30,000B.
-The Anusarnsunthorn School for the Deaf received
computer equipment.
-The Buddhadhamma Center (where the hashers have run on
various occasions) will get help with the abused hilltribe fund to the
extent of 30,000B.
-The wheelchair fund for handicapped people will get
70,000B.
-The Wat Doi Saket Project for AIDS Sufferers (helping
and going to their homes) will get milk, rice and other products for
30,000B.
All of the above will be donated in the form of purchased
goods, as it is the Hash’s policy to only give away goods, not money.
Even with the extent of what has been, or is being
donated, there is still room for more, as Peter explained, “For the abused
hilltribe children it would be nice to have any kind of clothing, second
hand or whatever, as an extra. They have now 330 kids in their care.” (For
contact information, please see the Chiang Mai HHH Corner on page 31).
The first of the handover ceremonies was held Monday
September 29 at the Anusarnsunthorn School for the Deaf. The handover was in
the name of all hashes in Chiang Mai.
Peter said everyone is invited to attend future
handovers, and he will keep people informed of the dates and times.
Ex-chairman Peter concluded by expressing his gratitude
for all the help he received. “Once again thanks to everyone who made this
event so good and special!” he said. “I hope we can do some more charity
work again in the future - it’s always better to give than to get.”
Narong
Chawasil, president of North College, Chiang Mai provided his explanations
of peace for the audience.
David
Wilson surprised the audience once again with his absolutely brilliant
interpretation of a trio of waltzes from the ballet, “Cinderella”.
The
view from the Golden Triangle, where the Opium Museum has been reopened.