Phuket raises Bt 2 million for Haiti

PHUKET TOWN: An island-wide fundraising event by the Phuket Red Cross to provide aid to victims of the Haitian earthquake disaster raised about 2 million baht, organizers say.

The campaign culminated in a telethon on local television and donation drive on Soi Bangla on Thursday night.

Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop was among the many volunteers going from bar to bar asking tourists to chip in by making cash donations to a collection box.

A total of 1.4 million baht was collected on the night, much of it from the sale of 300 baht ‘Phuket help Haiti’ T-shirts produced specifically for the event. They were snapped up quickly by hordes of tourists until supplies ran out.

Among local organizations presenting donation checks was the local Sikh association, which raised over 110,000 baht from its members.

The Phuket Chapter of the Thai Red Cross Society, chaired by Thaisika Phraisa-ngop, is still accepting donations for the relief effort.

Those wishing to donate can do so by transferring funds to the following account:

Krungthai Bank Savings account #: 805-033-522-4

Account name: Phuket Red Cross for Haiti

The Rotary Club of Patong Beach also continues to raise funds for its ‘shelter box’ relief effort for Haitians. For information about this project and how to donate, click here.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan