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Bangkok Post
Bangkok Post
National

British expat walks from Pattaya to Phuket

James Lee Valentine gives a thumbs up in Pattaya as he sets off on a 1,000km+ walk to Phuket to raise funds for a children's charity.

British expat James Lee Valentine went on a 1,000km journey to raise money for children.

Valentine, 59, wanted to raise 1 million baht for Take Care Kids, a children's foundation based in Pattaya.

The walk from Pattaya to Phuket covered 1,050km. The 48-day walk ended on June 6.

Valentine's visit to Take Care Kids opened his eyes to the desperate situation faced by children at the hands of abusive families.

Himself a father of two, Valentine said he left the foundation that day distraught but was determined to do something to help the children.

Valentine raised 71,000 baht from a 33-kilometre Pattaya-Jomtien walk, which he gave to Take Care Kids.

After the Pattaya-Jomtien charity walk, Valentine said he knew more money would be needed to build a new foster home for the foundation.

So he set off from Pattaya to Phuket, for which he received 200,000 baht in donations.

During his walk to Phuket, Mr Valentine travelled along Sukhumvit Road, Rama II and Phetkasem Road, the main route heading South.

For most of the trip, the roads were not pedestrian-friendly. As well as narrow and uneven paths, he endured intense heat and physical pain.

People also offered him a ride, but he politely said no.

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