MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 - 1st Edition
A Rare Chance To Race for Charity in Doi Inthanon
Press Release / 14.12.2017
The first edition of the MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 will be held on Sunday December 17, 2017 in Doi Inthanon National Park in the northern Thailand province of Chiang Mai. Home to the country’s highest mountain, the 2,565-metre Doi Inthanon, the park has been dubbed “the Roof of Thailand” and covers an area of 482 square kilometres – or about one-third the size of Bangkok.
Action Asia Events is the first and only trail running company allowed to hold a charity running event in Doi Inthanon National Park. December’s event, which will offer three race distances (54km, 34km and 14km), follows on the heels of the successful test event on June 4, the MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 zero edition. The test run participants who each donated US$10, 100% of which went towards the purchase of trees for planting and the construction of a water dam in the local Hmong and Karen hill tribe village areas.
The same two projects will be supported by funds raised in the first edition of the MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50. The event, supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand, also aims to raise awareness of Doi Inthanon National Park and its villagers.
The women’s 50km champion from the previous test event, Bangkok resident Woraphan Kijsawasdi, found the test event course challenging yet, enjoying its stunning scenery. “It is challenging as the course is unique in Thailand since we don’t have such big mountains so much. The course is very beautiful, and my favorite part is the rock which looks like a tiger on one of the highest points,” Kijsawasdi also commented “I know the organizer has the “No Cup Policy” in the race, and I couldn’t agree more with that. I would recommend people coming to this place to also leave with their rubbish, for the aim of protecting the environment for the villages.”
The overall 50km champion from the previous Thailand 50 test event, whose legs still remembering the just finished MSIG Lantau 50 – Asian Skyrunning Championship in Hong Kong, Phoothong Pornmongkol has also signed up for the MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 and looks forward to the technical race this Sunday.
Hong Kong runners, Cheung Man Yee and Hui Ho Tat, who claimed the local female champion and male 2nd place in MSIG HK50 Series – Hong Kong Island, will also be participating in MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 aiming to have a satisfying performance.
Rattapol Gitisakchaiyakul, CEO of MSIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited, commented: “The MSIG Thailand Action Asia 50 captures spirit of ambition and success through sports. We encourage all runners to go forward whether you’re attempting the 14km, the 31km or the 54km. We are proud to partner with Action Asia Events to bring this event to Thailand.”
Ms Sarima Chindamat, director of the Tourism of Authority of Thailand, Hong Kong, was pleased to support the trail running charity event in Thailand, she said “It is an honor to get a chance to work with Action Asia Events and also Doi Inthanon National Park in the supporting the organizing of this event which is really useful for not only participants, and also give benefits to the local community and support the sustainable tourism development. We come here to enjoy the scenery and do the running, and we also give something back to the nature and the local community around, which is very meaningful.”
This fundraising event is possible due to the generous support of presenting sponsor MSIG Insurance (Thailand) Public Company Limited and supporting partners Tourism Authority of Thailand-Hong Kong, Doi Inthanon National Park, Thai Airways, Hoka One One, Outdoor Channel, AirAsia, Alpha Runner, Tri Action, International Skyrunning Federation, ITRA, Action X Store and Action Asia Foundation.
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