Pattaya Zumba lovers raise 100,000 baht for disabled boy

Zumba is a fun activity to stay in shape, but this week, Zumba lovers in Pattaya also used the activity to raise money for a good cause.

The street food market The Smile Land Pattaya, located on Phettrakul Road in Bang Lamung District, hosted an event, ‘Zumba Charity Party,’ on Monday. The Muscle Factory Pattaya gym sponsored the event, Pattaya Mail reported.

The event raised 100,000 baht to support the Baan Khru Boonchu Home for Special Children Foundation in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. The foundation is helping a four year old boy named Poldanai “Nong Yayee” Thongon, who has physical, hearing and vision impairments.

The foundation brought Nong Yayee to a doctor who said his vision and hearing could be fixed with surgery on one eye and one ear. All that was needed was money.

The event attracted Zumba enthusiasts from across the region who danced to a series of Zumba instructors. Meanwhile, sponsors including Buy Eat Zone and Kiwi Rental Car offered free food and beverages, including meatballs and spicy papaya salad known as som tam.

The Baan Khru Boonchu Home for Special Children Foundation works to help children with disabilities live happily in society.

In recent months, there have been a number of children’s charity initiatives in Pattaya, and Thailand at large.

Last week, the British Navy painted a children’s home in Pattaya during their visit to Thailand. The entire ship’s crew took time out of their busy schedule to visit the Baan Jing Jai Foundation children’s home, located just outside of Pattaya. The children worked alongside the sailors and members of the Thailand Branch of the Royal British Legion to add a fresh coat of paint. They also had fun playing sports with the ship’s crew.

Also last week, a group of German-speaking expats presented a Bangkok charity with a cheque of over 350,000 baht. The charity, Father Joe’s Mercy Center, founded by the priest Father Joseph Maier, works to create solutions for poor children, families, and communities in Bangkok’s slums.

In December, local leaders and charities treated kids in Pattaya’s Khopai community to a Christmas party. The children got to eat yummy food, play games, and win prizes. Santa Clause made an appearance at the party, gifting children candy, toys, and learning and sports equipment.