austraLasia #1997
(Two items of note:
1. 'Thai Salesian Games 2007' [#1994] was picked up on Google alert.
Congrats to our Thai correspondent, Fr Suphot Riungam!
2. #1996 on the 'differently-abled', from Bro Jomar at Canlubang in the
Philippines, has encouraged yet another Thai correspondent to write in.
Fr Charles Velardo's story is below.)
Bridge over the River Kwai - blind cyclists' latest
challenge
PAKKRED (Thailand): 3rd December 2007 -- "Yesterday at dawn
I left with a group of fifteen blind and visually-impaired cyclists for
a 90 kilometre ride. Amongst the activities we have at our Skills
Development Centre for the Blind is bike-riding. Usually we ride
in areas not far from the Centre, but once a year we lengthen the
distance. I assure you it is both a challenge, and fun. A
challenge because blind riders have to overcome their fear by riding
side-by-side with cars and trucks on ordinary roads with no other
protection than their sense and their stamina. Fun, because of
the reaction of motorists and people at large who, there and then,
cannot understand immediately what is going on.
Can a blind person ride a bike? Yes, with a
tandem bike, together with a sighted guide! Yesterday, for the second
year in a row, we joined the Tour de Thailande, an annual feature
organised to gather funds for a Foundation which helps poor people
affected by leukemia. Last year, by providential chance, the
organiser of the Tour came to see me and I readily suggested that blind
riders join the Tour....so long as some funds were made available for
the Blind. The offer was accepted and we joined the Tour from
Ayuthaya, the ancient capital of Thailand, to Bangkok.
This year the route took as to Kanchanaburi, the
city of the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. The fun and amazement
were repeated. Everyone looked smart, happy....tired. In spite of
the fact that our bikes are not top of the line, the results were more
than satisfactory. Riding alongside sighted cyclists lessens the
gap of disability, creates bonds of friendship, makes people aware of
the abilities of the blind, and educates to team-work".
_________________
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