The Million Baht Adventure: A Journey of Purpose and Adventure

Published on 23 October 2024

Darren Brunton – IMCA Asia Pacific Regional Committee Chairman and IMCA Diving Division Committee Member – will soon embark on the Million Baht Phang Nga Bay Adventure: a gruelling 350km challenge that aims to raise one million Baht for the children of the Banya Literary Centre in Thailand.

To learn more about the Million Baht Phang Nga Bay Adventure and how you can support the team and their cause, click here:

Along with other adventurers, Darren – a long-time Singapore resident and passionate advocate for the Banya Literary Centre – has been training hard in preparation for the six-day event, drawing on his experience as a former UK military serviceman and commercial diver.

Now the Managing Director of KB Associates Pte Ltd and KBA Training Centre Pte – IMCA Member companies in the training and diving / safety consultancy arena – Darren told Making Waves that he is driven by the opportunity to raise money for a worthy cause, improve his own fitness, and share his experience with his teammates as they tackle this demanding adventure together.

You can follow their progress, cheer them on, and most importantly, get involved, whether by donating, participating in their auction coming in November, or simply spreading the word. Every bit of support will help them move closer to their goal of raising one million Baht.

The Challenge and the Cause

The adventure itself is as thrilling as it is purposeful. From 26 November to 1 December this year, the team will cover the 350km distance by foot, bicycle, and kayak. They will face the physical and mental challenge of pushing their limits while raising money to fund essential resources for the children of the Banya Literacy Centre:

• Daily Meals: Ensuring that the children receive two meals-a-day for at least a year. Currently, the children are only receiving three meals a week.

• A School Bus: Providing the children with safe and reliable transport to and from the school.

The adventure is entirely self-funded, meaning that the team are all paying their own expenses to join the adventure and that every donation will go directly to these children, helping to provide essential support that many of us take for granted.

The expedition follows a similar fundraising effort in January – the Million Baht Swim – in which a team of Phuket based expats completed a 122km lap of Phuket Island, and together, with the support of the community, raised 1.1 million Baht for the school.

Several IMCA Members and individuals from the IMCA network have already contributed to help reach the target. To find out how you can support the team’s fundraising, click here.