Participants will traverse 350km by run, bicycle and kayak over six days. Starting and finishing at HOMA in Cherngtalay, the journey will take the team through key locations, including Sarasin Bridge, Phang Nga town, Krabi, Koh Yao Yai and Promthep Cape.
The primary goal is a target of B1 million to raise funds for Burmese migrant children in Phuket. Donations will be used to purchase a new school bus and provide additional school meals, essential for the students’ education and well-being. The St. Euthrasia Banya Literacy Center is the school for the Burmese students and its structure is under Good Shepherd Thailand. Sister Euthrasia is the founder of the school.
The St. Euphrasia Banya Literacy Centre in Phuket supports 135 students with six teachers and two staff members. Most students are children of Burmese migrant workers who have fled unsafe conditions in Myanmar. Their families often find refuge in Thailand, working low-wage jobs like gardening or construction.
New regulations now allow Burmese students to enroll in Thai schools if they pass a transfer exam, a tough challenge due to their limited education. To ease this transition, the center focuses on preparing young children early, successfully placing over 20 kindergarten students in Thai schools each year.
This year, donations will help buy a new school bus and provide more meals. Currently, the school offers three meals a week, and the goal is to increase this to two meals daily.
The team have been providing the school lunch, organising and funding PE classes, music classes and extra functional English classes for the school for a few years.
Axe and together with his wife Stephanie Rawlinson, are the founders of Million Baht Adventures. Last year, Axe swam 122km around Phuket and succeeded in raising B1.2 mn for the Good Shepherd School.
The Million Baht Adventures team includes 10 core athletes and a network of support staff, all contributing their time and resources to make this mission a success.
MEET THE TEAM
The team consists of 10 members who will complete the entire six legs in six days, along with many volunteers who donate their time, knowledge and resources to support the event. This initiative is organised and funded by the participating team members, ensuring that 100% of the donations go directly to the school.
Jason ‘Skip’ Whitnell - Risk and Safety Officer
Grant ‘Axe’ Rawlinson - Project manager
Dr Helen Rawlinson - Team Doctor
Ian ‘Chip’ Bellhouse - Team member
Daniel Lundberg - Team member
Jon Hussey - Driver
Tod Forney - Support boat and skipper
Darren Blakeley - Team member
Darren Brunton - Team member
Montse Castells - Team member & Head of Fundraising
Kaushiq Kodithodika - Team member
Sile O’Mahony - Team member
Anmol Garg - Fundraising / Comms
Shiho Katsuura - Committee member
Stephanie Rawlinson - Operations manager + trek
Heidi Oxley-Whitnell - Kayak and Banya coordinator
Natthaphon (Khun Bee) Chotmaneepithak - Logistics
Baffelly Woo - Organising team
Okkie Esterhuizen - Kayak + Support boat
Shweta Shaw - Social Media /Comms
Kolin Friske - Photo and videographer
THE SCHEDULE & ROUTE:
Start and end point: HOMA Cherngtalay
Start Nov 26, finish Dec 1. Total distance covered: 350km
Day 1:
40km walk to Sarasin Bridge.
Day 2:
110km cycle to Phang Nga town
Day 3:
90km cycle to Krabi
Day 4:
35km kayak to Koh Yao Yai
Day 5:
35km kayak to Promthep Cape
Day 6:
40km walk back to HOMA Cherngtalay
JOIN THE EVENT
The team consists of 10 core athletes supported by an operational crew although, along the way, anyone is welcome to join segments of the journey for a fee, with all proceeds going toward the cause. For details, visit the event’s page at: https://linktr.ee/millionbahtadventures.
Donations and contributions, however big or small, are welcome and will make a meaningful impact for the children.
“Education is a right, not a privilege. We want to give these children the opportunities they deserve,” said Stephanie Rawlinson.
“I believe everyone should have a right of education no matter the nationality, the race, the social standings, the gender and the religious points. And I strongly believe that children are our future. I want to give as many opportunities as possible to them,” added Ms Shiho Katsuura, one of the Committee members.
The location of the school and the contacts. St. Euthrasia Banya Literacy Centre: https://maps.app.goo.gl/1R7uGyRsTe78S1vU7?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy.