At the “Let’s Knit for the Needy” Press Conference in Central World on 15th September 2009, BNH Hospital set the ambitious target of delivering 111 knitted blankets to the students living at Umphangwitthayakom School in Tak province, before the cold weather of the winter 2009 season.

On November 11th, 2009 a Let’s Knit convoy of 2 mini-buses and a 6 wheel-truck set off from BNH Hospital to deliver 20 moving boxes containing over 400 blankets. The journey to Umphang from Bangkok by road is long and quite dangerous, with 1,219 hair-pin bends between Mae Sot and Umphang. Nevertheless, the drivers delivered the team and the precious blankets to the school safely and under the protective care of a police escort from Umphang District Police during the final leg of the journey.

Thank you to National Healthcare Services (NHS) Company Ltd and East-West Logistics Co Ltd for help and sponsorship of this trip.

BNH Social Director, Khun Kreeyada Vichaithanapat and Community Relations Manager, Ms.Angela Stafford headed the team of 14 volunteers, many of whom avid and addicted knitters who had contributed whole blankets to the project.

Upon arrival the children of the school enthusiastically set about helping the Let’s Knit team to unpack the heavy boxes and arrange the stage for the presentation ceremony.

ผ้าห่มนิตติ้งไหมพรมเดินทางถึงอุ้มผางแล้ว...

หลังจากที่โรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอชได้ประชาสัมพันธ์โครงการ BNH Let's Knit for the Needy สู่ สาธารณชนเมื่อช่วงกลางเดือนกันยายน 2552 ที่ผ่านมา ปรากฏว่าได้รับความสนใจเป็นอย่างดียิ่งทั้งจากประชาชน บริษัท ห้างร้านต่างๆ ตลอดจนสื่อมวลชนทุกแขนง มีผู้สนใจร่วมถักนิตติ้งไหมพรมและส่งชิ้นงานมาที่โรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอชเป็น จำนวนมากจากทั่วประเทศรวมทั้งจากต่างประเทศกว่า 40,000 ชิ้น ซึ่งสามารถนำมาต่อเป็นผืนผ้าห่มได้กว่า 400 ผืน

ในวันที่ 12 พฤศจิกายน 2552 ที่ผ่านมา จึงนับเป็นโอกาสอันดีที่โรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอชจะนำผ้าห่มนิตติ้งไหมพรมส่งมอบ ให้กับนักเรียนโรงเรียนอุ้มผางวิทยาคม จังหวัดตาก เพื่อให้หนาวนี้ของน้องๆ อบอุ่นด้วยความเอื้ออาทรและความห่วงใยจากทุกท่าน

บ่ายของวันพฤหัสบดีที่ 12 พฤศจิกายน 2552 เจ้าหน้าที่แผนก Community Relations Centre พร้อมด้วยคณะผู้แทนจากโรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอช นำโดยคุณกรียดา วิชัยธนพัฒน์ (Social Director) และคุณ Angela Stafford (Senior Manager, Community Relations Centre) เดินทางถึงโรงเรียนอุ้มผางวิทยาคม ซึ่งได้รับการต้อนรับอย่างอบอุ่นจากท่าน ผอ. สมประสงค์ มั่งอะนะ ผู้อำนวยการโรงเรียนอุ้มผางวิทยาคม พร้อมด้วยคณะครูและนักเรียนโรงเรียนอุ้มผางวิทยาคม นอกจากนี้ พวกเรายังได้รับเกียรติจากท่านเชวงศักดิ์ ใจคำ นายอำเภออุ้มผาง เดินทางมาร่วมเป็นเกียรติในพิธีมอบผ้าห่มจากโครงการ BNH Let's Knit for the Needy ในครั้งนี้อีกด้วย


The Director of Umphangwitthayakom School, Khun Somprasong Mang-ana organized the 412 boarding children to gather in the canteen dining area for their evening meal and to attend the blanket donation ceremony.

Each day the students and teachers prepare the meals they eat themselves. Khun Somprasong insists that they perform exercises, spend time reflecting on their life and pray before they start their meal. The students’ politeness and gentleness, and their ability to respond and particulate in these daily routine activities so enthusiastically at the end of the day made a strong impression on the BNH Let’s Knit team.

The Umphang District Sheriff, Khun Chaweng Chaikam, kindly attended the ceremony. His welcome speech to the team thanked BNH Hospital for choosing Umphangwitthayakom School to be the recipients of the blankets. He also commented that the press conference and the resultant enthusiasm for the knitting project had helped to highlight the needs of the school to a country-wide and international audience, as well as promote Umphang and its natural beauty to potential visitors.

Before the presentation ceremony, an hour long show of dancing and singing was performed by the students in their colourful native Akha, Hmong, Karen and Mien hilltribe costumes.
หลังอาหารเย็นของน้องๆ เวลาประมาณ 18.00 น. ช่วงเวลาที่ทุกคนรอคอยก็มาถึง ท่านนายอำเภอและผู้อำนวยการโรงเรียนขึ้นกล่าวต้อนรับคณะจากโรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอชอย่างเป็นทางการ พร้อมด้วยการแสดงน่ารักๆ จากน้องๆนักเรียนชาวเขา


After speeches by Khun Somprasong, Khun Kreeyada and Ms. Angela, the presentation ceremony started. Everyone was amazed by the beauty and creativity of the blankets – it was obvious to all that each square had been knitted with love and kindness. The blankets pictures include those contributed by Mrs. Alison Murray from England, the British cast and crew of the hit musical Mamma Mia and presenters and staff of Channel 7 Broadcasting Company, as well as many well known hotels, international and Thai schools and members of the international expat community.

จากนั้นการรับมอบผ้าห่มก็เริ่มต้นขึ้นท่ามกลางความอิ่มเอมใจ รอยยิ้ม ความสนุกสนานและความประทับใจ น้องๆ นักเรียน รวมไปถึงท่านนายอำเภอ ท่านผู้อำนวยการโรงเรียน และคณะครูต่างปลื้มปิติและรู้สึกตื้นตันใจกับผ้าห่มนิตติ้งไหมพรมจำนวนมากมาย ซึ่งถักทอด้วยหัวใจแห่งความรักความห่วงใยในครั้งนี้ น้องๆ ทุกคนตื้นเต้นที่ได้เห็นผ้าห่มนิตติ้งไหมพรม สวยงามหลากสีสรร หลายรูปแบบ จนเสียงปรบมือดังมาไม่ขาดสาย




It was obvious that the students, teachers and school director were excited and deeply moved by the knitted blankets. They lined the route out of the school grounds to wave farewell and visited the team to say Good-bye and Thank You on the morning the Let’s Knit team departed for their return journey to Bangkok.

BNH Hospital is still receiving knitted squares which will sewn together by the volunteer ladies at the Sisters of the Good Shepherd Fatima Centre. These will be delivered to Umphangwitthaya School in December 2009, meaning that all the students living there will be warm and feel cared about this winter.

Thank you to all those who have kindly contributed to the Let’s Knit for the Needy appeal.

Caption

  • Over 400 boarding students are under the patronage of the Umphangwitthayakom School.
  • Khun Chaweng Chaikam, Umphang District Sheriff, made a welcome speech.
  • Khun Kreeyada Vichaithanapat, BNH Social Director, and Khun Angela Stafford, CRC Manager, talked about the project.
  • Khun Somprasong Mang-ana, School Director, thanked BNH Hospital and everyone who had participated in the project.
  • Manee Nateeprapassorn, thanked BNH Hospital on behalf of the students.
  • Dancing and singing performances by the students in their hilltribe costumes.
  • Some of the hand-knitted blankets made by the BNH Hospital staff.
  • BNH Hospital donated 30,000 baht raised from the project to support the education of the school.
  • A hand-knitted blanket contributed by Mrs. Alison Murray from England.
  • A hand-knitted blanket by Thai celebrity - Khun Wichuda Pindum.
  • Knitted blanket made by the students of Garden International School.
  • Knitted blanket made by the parents of Satit Prasarnmitr Demonstration School.
  • Knitted blankets contributed by Channel 7.
  • Knitted blankets contributed by Four Seasons Hotel.
  • Knitted blankets contributed by Banyan Tree Hotel.
Hundreds of hand-knitted blankets made from thousands pieces of knitted squares.

ในนามโรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอช พวกเราขอขอบคุณผู้สนับสนุนใจดีทุกท่านที่มีส่วนร่วม และเอื้อเฟื้อสนับสนุนให้โครงการนี้สำเร็จลุล่วงไปได้ด้วยดี ดังนี้

ศูนย์การค้าเซ็นทรัลเวิร์ล โรงแรมโฟร์ซีซั่นกรุงเทพ โรงแรมเซ็นทาราแกรนด์ โรงแรมบันยันทรีกรุงเทพ ร้านภิญญ์

บริษัท DB Schenker บริษัท PCS บริษัท NHS บริษัทกลุ่มสยามบรรจุภัณฑ์จำกัด บริษัท East-West Logistics

และที่สำคัญที่สุดคือ ขอขอบพระคุณทุกท่านที่กรุณาสละเวลาและทุนทรัพย์ร่วมแรงร่วมใจกันถักนิตติ้งไหมพรมให้น้องๆ อุ้มผางในครั้งนี้ โรงพยาบาลบีเอ็นเอชรู้สึกซาบซึ้งใจเป็นอย่างยิ่งในความมีน้ำใจของทุกท่าน และพวกเราหวังเป็นอย่างยิ่งว่าในโอกาสต่อไปจะได้รับความกรุณาจากทุกๆท่านเช่นเคย


Thailand temperatures are coldest in a decade

The Associated Press , Bangkok | Sat, 01/17/2009 5:03 PM | World

Thais are donning scarves, farmers are scrambling to save their rice crops and snakes are freezing to death.

That is all because temperatures in this normally balmy country have dipped to their coldest in a decade.

The country has been gripped in a cold spell that blew down from China earlier this month and is likely to last until February, the Thai Meteorological Department said Saturday.

Chukiat Thaijaratsathian, an official in the department's forecasting office, said temperatures in the country's capital fell to a low of 14.7 degree Celsius (58.5 Fahrenheit) on Jan. 11 - the coldest in a decade. They have even been colder in the country's mountainous northeast, reaching 4.2 degree Celsius (39.5 degree Fahrenheit) in Nakhon Phanom province.

"We have not had this kind of a cold spell in Thailand for many years," Chukiat said. "Seven of our weather stations around the country have recorded the lowest temperature in 10 years."

At least two people have died from exposure to the cold, according to The Bangkok Post. A 71-year-old monk was found dead Sunday in Phak Hai district of Ayutthaya, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) north of the capital. An 82-year-old man also was found dead in his apartment in Rayong province, in the east of Thailand. It was unclear when he died.

For most Thais, the cold spell has meant having to don scarves and, in some cases, gloves for the chilly commute to work. Villagers have taken to lighting outdoor fires at night to keep warm - resulting in at least 10 people suffering burns when the fell asleep next to the flames.

The country's agriculture has been hit especially hard by the cold weather.

As much as 150,000 rai (24,000 hectares; 59,304 acres) has been damaged by the cold, according to The Bangkok Post. Another 200,000 rai (32,000 hectares; 79,000 acres) of tobacco plantations also were damaged, the newspaper said.

Snake farmers in parts of the country have complained their slithery reptiles are dying from exposure, the newspaper said, while fish farmers in the country's south said their sea bass were dying off.

Even the wild animals are having a rough time.

The Elephant Hospital in Lampang is watching at least eight ailing pachyderms who have fallen sick because of the freezing conditions. Monkeys in the country's south have abandoned their homes in the Bantad mountain in favor of a local hot spring in a bid to keep warm.
We would like to thank those who are involved in the 'BNH-Let's Knit' network to help the children at the Umphangwittayakom School in the Tak province keep warm and feel cared for in the next winter season.
We receive wonderfully knitted squares made with thought and passion. A big thank you to all those busy knitting.

Furthermore we would like to thank the companies who generously support this project.


Dear All,

The BNH Team went up to Umphang to deliver your beautiful blankets to the students at Umphangwitthayakom School and were amazed by the heartfelt welcome they received.
Please be a little bit patient as we have to select some pictures out of the thousands taken.
But we would like to express our gratitude to all the sponsors who supported this project and made it the success it is.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr David Grant from East-West Logistics Co., Ltd. to bring the blankets up to those in need.


We will upload pictures and a travel report as soon as possible.
Thank you for your patients.
Sister Louise and the women from the Fatima Center came to visit the knitted Gingerbread House at BNH Hospital.
With their help the thousands of squares become blankets.


Carabao Rocks

Carabao Rocks

Press Conference

On the 15th September we officially launched the BNH Let's Knit for the needy with the press conference at CentralWorld. The event was well attended and we appreciate the support and enthusiasm shown.



















Patchwork Blankets


The first blankets are finished.
In night-work Sister Louise and her team from the Fatima Center completed the first blankets.
They look fantastic, warm and cosy.
Thank you very much!


Mamma Mia Magical Knitting Mania!

On the 11th August the smash hit musical ‘Mamma Mia’, which is based on the songs of ABBA, opened at the Muangthai Rachadalai Theatre, Bangkok. ABBA’s catchy music and the vibrancy of the singers and dancers performing made it difficult for the audience to remain seated during performances – at any moment you expected the person next to you to jump up and join in with the singers on the stage.

But what does the Mamma Mia Musical have to do with the BNH “Let’s Knit” Blog?

Well - Angela, a huge Mamma Mia fan, went to see the show with a group of British Club members on the 12th August. She talked beforehand that she would try to persuade the cast to do some knitting for the project. To be honest, we didn’t really believe she would be able to approach the cast but the next morning when she arrived at work she was full of excitement and we were all stunned when she told us she had managed to speak to Jackie Clune (the actress who plays Donna Sheridan) about the project.

The next day Jackie called Angela and said she had spoken to the team and they were excited about knitting a Mamma Mia blanket! She ordered 25 knitting kits and asked us to deliver them to their hotel as soon as possible so they could start knitting straight away.

Angela went to see the show for a second time a few days later, with friends visiting from England, and met up with Jackie and also Geraldine Fitzgerald (the actress who plays Tanya). They were both really excited about their knitting and told Angela that everyone was having so much fun knitting back stage and in their spare time. They laughed when they told that even the sound engineer was involved and almost missed his queue to put the spot lights as he was busy trying to finish a row ! They were also pleased to be involved in helping provide a blanket for the Thai children at Umphangwitthayaykom school and felt this was a fitting thank you for all the pleasure they had experienced during their time in Thailand.
















The Gingerbread House is on its way


On the 12th of August the Gingerbread House left Bristol on the Savannah Express for Bangkok.
DB Schenker England organised the outbound very smoothly and extremely quick.
A huge THANK YOU to Bryony Fordham and Wiktor Lapinski at DB Schenker for their support and the sponsorship of the freight.
www.Marinetraffic.com is a website where the route of the Savannah Express can be followed.

Let's get Knitting











They are really going for it...
AMAZING!

These are the squares Triumph Thailand has knitted already to support the 'BNH Let's Knit' project.

A huge thank you for your involvement.








Canada Day


On the 27th June the Canadian community in Bangkok celebrated Canda's 142nd birthday at the British Club.
And as every year BNH Hospital participated and the Community Relations Staff organised a children's painting activity, which proved to be very amazingly popular.









It was a great opportunity to promote the BNH Let's Knit project. We invited party guests to participate and knit some squares for the needy.
Let's Knit Starter Kit's were available for only 200 baht to those who were very keen (thank you for your support).