About Bangers On Bikes
he Bangers On Bikes Charity Ride, conceived
four years ago, is now a yearly event and
proudly supported by the Old Bangkok
Bangers Rugby Club.
For many years, the Bangers were involved in a
rural rugby development program for Thai youth.
It was at a rugby training weekend in Phuket, that
the players were introduced to the Asia Center
Foundation (ACF). ACF provides assistance and
educational support for underprivileged Thai
children in Phuket. After talking to the staff and
children at the Center, the Bangers thought they
could help in some way.
It become apparent that funding was always an
issue. The decision was made to support the Center
in their long term mission to build a school.
The ride was the brainchild of Bob Pearson the
talented Bangers rugby veteran. Bob enlisted the
support of like minded Bangers, Pete Burgess &
Jean-Francois Klentzi and decided to organise a
sponsored cycle ride from Bangkok to Phuket.
In the following years, additional riders have thrown
their weight behind the ride Patrick Bernard, Martin
Hodgson, Richard Folds, Andrew Lamont, Trevor
Day and this year Rod Kerr and Jim Beckett.
All the riders fund their own ride. It is strictly
volunteer. All monies collected go to the charities.
Following on from this, the Old Bangkok Bangers
upped the anti and support another charity in
Bangkok, the Nak Suu Warriors Rugby Academy
located in the slums of Klong Toey.
The ultimate goal is to have a lasting impact in
the lives of young Thais building trust, hope, selfesteem, and courage. providing these children with
the opportunity to develop skills, and character
needed to successfully live a life that will contribute
to society.
Over the last four years, the Bangers On Bikes
Ride has raised over 1,000,000.00 Baht for the
two charities. Our goal this year is in excess of
600,000.00 Baht.
The ride has established a substantial track record,
in Thailand cycling charitable fund raising and not
least, friendship, camaraderie and a unique spirit
fostered by the event with both the sponsors and
the charities.
t’s that time of year when the Bangers
cycling team prepare for their annual
charity ride between Bangkok and
Phuket.
uring 2012 Asia Center Foundation
(ACF) celebrates 10 years of working
with disadvantaged children on Phuket.
ACF is a non-profitable NGO that reach out
to vulnerable children with educational help,
which includes Day Care Centers, bursaries/
scholarships, sport as well as life skill
development programs and a place for
safety.
Unlike previous years, the ride will start
in Phuket and end in Bangkok. just prior to the Bangkok International Rugby
Tens.
This is all done to raise money to support under privileged children at the
Asia Centre Foundation in Phuket and
the Nak Suu Tigers Rugby program in Bangkok.
The funds raised. will be split evenly between these two very deserving causes. This whole purpose of this effort is to assist in transforming the lives of the children in those programs, in fact the Nak Suu
program motto is “Changing Lives Forever”.
All involved do this on a voluntary basis and give up their personal
time for the benefit of those less fortunate than ourselves. I would
like to ask you to please dig deep into your pockets and sponsor the
Bangers for the trip, which will enable us to donate to the two very
worthwhile charities mentioned above.
Last year we raised close to 580,000 Baht all of which was split and
donated to ACF and Nak Suu Tigers Rugby program. I would like to
take this opportunity to thank all those involved coordinating this project from the Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club.
Finally a special thanks those people and organizations who have or
will give generously to this truly worthwhile cause.
With sincere thanks.
Roberto Guolo
Chairman
Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club
Each year ACF need to raise the necessary funds to maintain
projects. Overall ACF reaches 100 children on a day-to-day basis
through pre-school care and education, around 50 children through
the sport development program on a monthly basis and also supports
100 students with scholarships each year.
In 2010 some friends of ACF made a huge financial contribution by
riding their bikes from Bangkok to Phuket in order to raise funds in
support of ACF’s work with children. Bob, Pete and Jeff were the first
participants to the “Bangkok to Phuket ACF Charity Bike ride” and
inspired more of their friends to participate in the following years with
the same excellent effort.
Funds raised by these warm hearted, generous and adventurous
fellows contributed greatly to the work of ACF. ACF has a vision to
start a Youth Center and small school for disadvantaged children on
Phuket. Funds raised by this event not only enabled the current work
to continue, but will eventually help realize this dream.
Supporting these brave men makes you just as part of what ACF tries
to do as the team working directly with the children every day.
Please partner with us in reaching children with hope and giving them
a future, by supporting the team participating again this year.
Roelien Muller
ACF Director
Web Link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YayM75PD850&feature=share
ak Suu Rugby Academy, a program of Ark International.was founded to give children that are directly affected by
poverty and lack of opportunity the chance to succeed in life. Nak Suu translated means ‘Noble Warrior’ and our
kids come from some of the toughest slums of Bangkok. They are often subject to crime, prostitution, child labor and
drug and substance abuse. Nak Suu is one hundred percent volunteer driven and it is our desire to ‘change lives, one
child at a time’.
As a result of the stellar effort of Bangers on Bikes last year, Nak Suu was able to purchase its first vehicle – a Thai
songtaow to pick up children to bring to our training field. Through this support and the generosity of other donations,
we have been able to train around 40 - 50 kids each week and expand some of our efforts in these communities in the
area of health care, target community awareness in critical areas of human trafficking and start the beginning stages of
developing some educational incentives to keep youth in school. None of this is possible without the support and effort of committed individuals
and groups like yourselves.
A huge thanks to the Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club for their tireless commitment to give and get behind ACF and Nak Suu. Once again they
have demonstrated that they are more than just a rugby club, they are part of the local community trying hard to make a difference in people’s lives!
Together we can impact and bring change.
Linda Fakaua
Nak Suu Tigers Rugby Academy
Asia Center Foundation (ACF) is a registered Christian, Non-Government Organization (NGO) in Phuket, Thailand since November 2001.
ACF is guided by dedicated Thai and foreign board members.
The ACF Board Chairman is Khun Eam Thavornvongwongse from the Kata Group of Hotels in Phuket and the Board Chairman of the
Phuket Chamber of Commerce. The Director is Roelien Muller (RSA), other Board Members are: Mr Timothy Byers (USA) the director of
The Well Member Care Center in Chiang Mai, Khun Somchai Kiatnimit & Khun Pikul Thongthep the Director of Child Sponsorship Program
in YWAM Bangkok.
The Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club provides financial assistance to the ACF scholarship program, providing educational support for
Thai children.
The Nak Suu Rugby Academy is committed to transforming the lives of underprivileged children in Thailand. These kids typically come from
the poorest slum areas for Bangkok where the needs are greatest.
CLF (“Changing Lives Forever”) desires to see children empowered with hope so they can make positive changes in their lives and in the
surrounding community. The Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club assist with funding and coaching support.
BANGERS ON BIKES TEAM 2013
Bob Pearson. Scotland. (43)
Martin Hodgson. Scotland. (44)
The founder of the Bangers on Bikes, Bob was so
confident of his ability on the first ride, he decided
to do it on a mountain bike with no training. After
collapsing 100km in, it was discovered he had
overdosed on electrolytes. Completed the 2011
ride with no training.,after scheduling a knee
operation six weeks before. Normally found at
the back of the pack.
Martin earned the nickname ‘Fat Hill Walker’
after his wonderful performance on Kamala Hill
in 2011. He push his bike up the entire hill. Martin
came up with a more cunning ruse for 2012 – the
dodgy Achilles. It always flared up at the bottom
of any big hill, but twenty minutes in the support
car & he recovered enough to freewheel down
the other side. Top malingerer.
Jean-Francois Klentzi. France. (43)
Trevor Day. England. (57)
The Pastis swilling, Gitanes smoking former
France ‘A’ prop has been on the ride from the
start and will stop at nothing to improve his fitness
Jeff’s finest moment came on the 2011 ride where
he rammed into the back of Pete Burgess bike at
40km/hour and smashed his lovely new Bianchi
bike. Classy.
As the oldest man on the ride, we should cut
Trevor some slack. But we won’t. He is known as
the ‘Hill Stopper’ for his brilliant ruse of getting off
his bike every time it gets steep and rushing into
the bushes, claiming a call of nature. Trevor then
tells everyone he would have been first up the
hill if it hadn’t have been for that dodgy Somtam
at lunch. The same Somtam everyone else had.
Pete Burgess. New Zealand. (50)
Rod Kerr. Australia. (48)
The former Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club
head coach, was the pace setter on the inaugural
ride and is held in high regard by the fatties at
the back, for his selfless work towing them back
to the peloton. Pete’s finest moment came on the
2011 ride where he brake tested Jeff at 40km/hour
causing him to crash and smash up his new bike.
Jeff still thinks it was an accident.
Rod has just escaped from the brutal dictatorship
of Mongolia and is presently convalescing in
Koh Samui. He is looking forward to cycling past
Dulwich College on Day One and telling everyone
“I built that”. He didn’t, Burmese immigrants did,
but Rod is a pathological liar. Will be lucky to get
off Phuket before he is in support van according
to Trevor.
Patrick Bernard. France. (46)
Jim Beckett. England. (36)
A former semi-professional rider, Patrick never
misses a chance to show all the other cyclists
just how superior he is by riding off with a Gallic
shrug & leaving everyone in his wake. Unwilling
to do any work on the front of the peloton or tow a
struggling teammate, Generally finishes an hour
before the rest of the pack. Team player.
New to the ride this year. Jim signed up after
blowing the GDP of a small African dictatorship.
On a new Cannondale bike and needs to justify
this to his wife. Recently completed the Phuket
Triathlon & reckons that cycling is his strong suit.
We’ll see if he’s still claiming that on arrival in
Bangkok
Andew Lamont. New Zealand. (46)
Andrew McDowell. Logistics Manager
On his second ride, Andy was the most popular
cyclist last year, if only because he supplied
us with free Fosters. A top triathlete, Andy is a
much healthier version of Jeff and speaks better
English & enjoys the company of animals. Has a
shiny new bike this year and is perfectly capable
of disappearing into the distance like Patrick if he
felt like it. But fortunately, he’s not French.
Richard Folds. England. (38)
The heaviest cyclist on the ride at 115kg, Richard
struggles up the hills, but as long as everyone
waits at the top, he’ll be the first down the other
side. That’s momentum for you. Generally hides
at the back with Bob, but always leads the charge
into Khao Lak as he can smell bacon from twenty
miles away.
Been in Thailand so long he knows everything.
His words, not mine. If you need a hotel 100km
north of Ranong in the middle of nowhere, he can
find one. A natural at filling water bottles, ordering
food & berating the locals, the trip would not be
the same without him. Trevor says it would be a
lot better, but he just likes to argue.
Dave Thomas. Driver
The youngest man on the trip at 33, Dave gave
up his career as a professional track cyclist to
indulge his true calling taxi driving. He was all set
to ride this year until it occurred to him that riding
200km a day for a week is bloody hard work. Has
suffered the ire of his wife after spending 56,000
baht on a new bike. Nice wheels.
BANGERS ON BIKES ITINERARY 2013
Day
From
To
Saturday 9th Feb
Phuket
Kura Buri
190
Sunday 10th Feb
Kura Buri
Thung Tako
180
Monday 11th Feb
Thung Tako
Bang Saphan
185
Tuesday 12th Feb
Bang Saphan
Hua Hin
180
Wednesday 13th Feb
Hua Hin
Samut Sakorn
150
BANGER ON BIKES SPONSORS 2012
By PayPal : [email protected]
(Sponsor must have PayPal account)
SPONSOR DETAILS
YOUR PLEDGE
By cheque to the order of Old Bangkok Bangers
In cash to any Bangers On Bikes Rider
By bank transfer to the following account :
Bank : Bangkok Bank. Abdul Rahim Branch
Account Name : Old Bangkok Bangers
Account No : 031-3-00692-6
Account Type : Current Account
NOTE
Contact
Sponsors Name
Please complete the form on the right and add the
amount of your pledge
Receipts will be issued upon request
CONTACT US
Email : [email protected]
Post : Old Bangkok Bangers Rugby Club
Phone
Fax
Email
C/- 35/194 Soi 5/11
Muu Baan Ladawan
Sri Nakarin Road. Bang Plee
Samut Prakan 10540. Thailand
www.oldbangkokbangers.com
Bangers On The Bike Charity Ride
Kms
Authorized Signature