Brian Hayes accepting award (center) with Group Captain Vorachat Tharechat and Mrs Tharechat.

Wellington long-time anti-landmine campaigner Brian Hayes has received an award as part of the King of Thailand’s 60th anniversary celebration of his accession to the throne.

Brian has been actively involved in the anti land mine campaign for many years, but for the past 4 years he has been fundraising to assist landmine survivors on Thailand’s borders. This effort is supported by the New Zealand anti-landmine campaign group CALM (Campaign Against Land Mines).

The funds raised have been sent to the Chiang Mai Prosthetic Foundation and have provided for the fitting of artificial limbs for more than 200 men, women and children. This enables the adults to continue working to support their families and the children to grow up without being disadvantaged because of a disability.

“My wife Leang told me that her relatives in Thailand saw the award ceremony on Thai TV,” Brian said. “The award also recognizes the generosity of New Zealanders and their awareness of the problems that other countries face, especially from the scourge of landmines.”

Brian Hayes holding award.

Brian and his wife are active members of the Wellington Marathon Clinic. Brian is organizing a 5-hour walk/run at Labour Weekend in Wellington as the next CALM fundraiser for the Chiang Mai Prosthetic Foundation. (It is said that 5 hours is about the average time it takes to get a person who steps on a landmine to appropriate medical assistance)

Brian’s award, as a Companion of the Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand, was presented by Thailand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr.Kantathi Suphamongkhon, in the presence of NZ government representative Jim Sutton and the Ambassador of Thailand Mr Norachit Sinhaseni.