Cycle for Hope: 2000km Singapore - Bangkok Mae Tao Clinic Fundraiser
Raising $100,000 for 100,000 displaced Myanmar people across the Myawaddy - Mae Sot border
On 28th April 2024, I'll set off on a two-week, 2000+km expedition from Singapore to Bangkok to raise $100,000 SGD for a free clinic along the Thai-Myanmar Border.
Current Fundraising Progress: $46,896/100,000 SGD received from 190 generous donors (Updated 11.30pm, 30th April 2024).
I first visited the Mae Tao clinic in 2020, and previously raised more than $10,000 to support their ongoing initiatives in healthcare and education
(Previous fundraising video with scenes from the ground when I visited in 2020: facebook.com/hear.mm/videos/mae-tao-clinic-fundraiser/198414754603325/).
Who Am I? (For those new here)
Filmmaker by training, serial entrepreneur/investor & globe trotter (known for visiting 55+ countries during the pandemic).
Biography/media links here.
Why Now?
On 9th April, Thailand announced that it was preparing to accept 100,000 Myanmar refugees amidst fresh fighting in Myawaddy (a major border crossing between Thailand & Myanmar). This would add to the already significant strain that organisations such as the Mae Tao clinic are facing due to the longstanding nature of the refugee situation along this border dating back over 40 years.
More than a million refugees, migrant workers and stateless people, mostly of Karen origin populate this border region whilst much of the international media attention has shifted to the other refugee crisis of Rohingya people in the west of Myanmar, the wars in Ukraine and Israel.
Why Mae Tao Clinic?
The Mae Tao Clinic was established in 1989 (turning 35 this year) and has been providing primary healthcare service, education and protection to migrants and stateless individuals along the Thai Myanmar border.
Their Thai-registered partner, Suwannimit Foundation (SNF) count the Lee Foundation, International Rescue Committee (IRC), Partners Asia, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and other prominent organisations and individuals as donors.
More information on their activities can be found at: maetaoclinic.org/
How to Support?
This is your call-to-action. I'll be fully funding my cycling expedition, the donation benefits as well as any payment gateway fees so that 100% of the funds donated will be received by the Mae Tao Clinic.
Donation Benefits
$50 - 6-month common cents newsletter subscription
$100 - Follow the journey (join exclusive Telegram/Whatsapp group to receive updates on the training & journey starting 21st April 2024)
$250 - Invitation to flag off on 28th April 2024 (4am) in SG / touchdown in SG (TBA between 12-15 May) and everything above
$500 - signed T shirt and everything above
$1000 - VIP dinner and everything above
$2500 - Large canvas print and everything above
$10,000 - 3D2N Private tour of Myanmar and everything above
Corporates/Business Packages (please reach out for more information):
$1500 - Bronze package
$5000 - Silver package
$25,000 - Gold package
Please find it within yourself to contribute any other amount(s) below/above these recommendations or do so on behalf of a friend.
Payment Option 1: Direct to Mae Tao Clinic
There are several partner organisations that collect donations on behalf of the Mae Tao Clinic detailed here. I’ve scrapped out the key links and methods below (you may input ‘cycle for hope’ in the comments field but don’t forget to take a screenshot of the payment completion notification/receipt as well!):
a. USD (Credit Card): https://connect.clickandpledge.com/w/Form/1b93e15d-2585-47a9-9be7-65800f993273
b. Thai Baht (Bank transfer - lowest cost through Wise/Revolut/Instarem):
Account Name: Suwannimit Foundation for Mae Tao Clinic
Account Number: 016-8-83807-7
Bank and Branch: Kasikorn Bank, Mae Sot
SWIFT Code: KASITHBK
Bank Address: 84/9, Prasart Withi Rd., Mae Sot, Tak Province 63110, Thailand
Mae Tao Clinic Address: 702, Moo 1, Tha Sai Luat, Mae Sot, Tak Province 63110, Thailand
c. AUD (Credit Card): https://www.apheda.org.au/donate-to-mae-tao-clinic/
d. HKD (Credit Card): https://www.connectingmyanmar.org/donate.html
Once completed, send the screenshot(s) to cycle2000forhope@gmail.com for my team to track the progress and public updates on this page within 48 working hours.
For the purposes of the above donation rewards, 1 USD = 1.35 SGD, 1 AUD = 0.88 SGD & 1 THB = 0.037 SGD. For those who do not have a USD/AUD/HKD bank account/credit card, it would be advisable to use a multi-currency card such as Wise/Revolut/YouTrip to minimise conversion charges, alternatively consider option 2 where I’ll help you to donate- I’m not fundraising for banks here!
Payment Option 2 via Jeshua: SGD/MMK Donations
Payment will be done to my personal account and I will in turn send the money to the Mae Tao Clinic and post the screenshots and accounts publicly every 48 working hours for accountability.
a. SGD (PayNow): 88166105
b. SGD (Bank Transfer): Posb Savings 403-34578-4
c. SGD (Grabpay/Credit Card- 1% fee will be absorbed by me):
d. SGD (Stripe/Credit Card- 2.9% fee will be absorbed by me): https://buy.stripe.com/fZe4gH0YZg02aek5kk
e. MMK (CB Bank): 0094-1001-0000-2992
f. MMK (Kpay): 09890993116
As of 12th April, 2800 MMK = 1 SGD
Please send me a screenshot to cycle2000forhope@gmail.com for my team to track the progress and public updates on this page within 48 working hours.
$100,000 Target BONUS
Should we reach/exceed the $100,000 SGD fundraising target by 10th May 2024, I'm committing to cycle an additional 420km to Tak, near to the Thai-Myanmar border town of Mae Sot and donate my bicycle to the Mae Tao clinic.
Appendix A: Previous Expeditions + Cycling Route
In 2019, I cycled from Shan state Myanmar, down to Yangon (~400km in 4 days)
In 2020, I cycled from Johannesburg, South Africa to Beit Bridge in Zimbabwe (~600km in 8 days)
In 2023, I cycled from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Singapore (~450km in 2 days)
Nothing like what I have done in the past has prepared me sufficiently for this journey except for the grace of God.
The first 5 days will take me to the Malaysia – Thailand border followed by 9 more days to get to Bangkok (and 2 more to reach Tak if the funding goal is hit). I’ll basically be taking the reverse route that the Japanese invaded Singapore through (without full battle gear).
Appendix B: Screenshots of donation receipts on behalf of Mae Tao Clinic (MTC) & Donation Ledger
In the interest of transparency and accountability, I’ll be uploading screenshots (personal information masked) of all receipts into my personal accounts here and updating the fundraising ledger (available here) and progress bar/funds raised on top of this page as regularly as possible throughout this campaign.