Suphan Buri was preparing a warm welcome for rock singer Toon Bodyslam as he resumed his marathon charity run on Wednesday morning, heading from Bangkok towards his home province.
Provincial governor Nimit Wanchaithanawong promised a welcome ceremony for Artiwara Kongmalai, the singer's official name, by Suphan Buri residents when he enters the province through Bang Pla Ma district.
A large crowd is expected at a PTT petrol station in the district where their hero is scheduled to make a stop by Thursday evening at the latest.
Toon was born in Suphan Buri and studied in Bangkok. He regularly returns to his birthplace and is a staunch supporter of the Suphanburi football club.
After a two-day rest in Bangkok, Toon left the King Power headquarters at 3am on Wednesday for Lat Lum Kaeo district in Pathum Thani, clocking up another 55 kilometres on his run from Betong district in Yala to Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai to support 11 state hospitals.
The Bodyslam singer stopped at Siriraj Hospital along the way with doctors, nurses and medical staff waiting to greet him. "My intention is to provide all doctors, nurses and hospital staff moral support for their hard work, which many have to do without adequate equipment," he said.
Toon paid respect to the statues of Prince Mahidol and the Princess Mother and the portraits of His Majesty the King and the late King Bhumibol.
Donations for his run stood at more than 590 million baht as of Wednesday afternoon, according to kaokonlakao.com, the official website of the event.
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