Bangkok, Thailand—More than 1,600 people, including 1,000 cyclists, participated in the Peace Road 2016 event, “Bike for Peace,” on July 24.
Many of the cyclists registered for the event in response to a campaign the organizing committee ran on social media. Over two days during the campaign, more than 1,000 people had signed up to bike.
Ambassadors for Peace, government officials, educators and youth, as well as 100 volunteers from several Thai organizations that provide first aid and emergency assistance, were among the participants. Two of the organizations were the Ruamkatanyu Foundation and the Ruam Duay Chuay Kan Rescue, which brought an ambulance and team for first-aid. The so-called “Marshall Team” also supported the event by offering strategies for biking.
The program, which took place at the plaza outside of the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, began with an opening ceremony, led by Gen. Terdsak Marrome, president of UPF-Thailandand an aide-de-camp to the King of Thailand, H.M. Bhumiphol Adulyadej.
Dr. Chung Sik Yong, chair of UPF-Asia, delivered the congratulatory remarks and shared the UPF Founders vision for peace.
Rev. Kamol Thananopavarn, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)-Thailand, an affiliated organization, also spoke. Afterwards, Gen. Marrome gave additional remarks, then the ribbon cutting and signing of the Peace Road board took place.
Together, Dr. Yong; Gen. Marrome; Rev. Thanaopavarn; along with Dr. Lek Thaveetermsakul, secretary general of UPF-Thailand; Mrs. Kamoltip Phayakvichien, president of the Women’s Federation for World Peace-Thailand; Prof. Kirti Bunchua, vice president of UPF-Thailand, Ambassadors for Peace and members of FFWPU-Thailand signed the board, after which they joined hands to release the cyclists at the starting line of the 15 kilometer Peace Road route.
When the cyclists returned, youth volunteers placed a Peace Road medal on the neck of each one, and, afterwards, everyone enjoyed watching Tong-Il Moo-Do martial arts demonstrations and a dance performance.
Certificates were then presented to the police, government officials, the voluntary organizations that supported the event and key sponsors.
Many of the participants said they will come back again next year and will help mobilize a greater number of cyclists and volunteer organizations to take part in the Peace Road 2017.