In keeping with the spirit of the season of giving, contemporary artist and photographer Chhoy Bunsokheng is about to embark on an epic journey across seven provinces to raise much-needed funds for the Angkor Children’s Hospital.

The former distance runner, originally from Poipet, will travel 528km on foot, in what he is calling the “Yeardtraa” campaign, after the Pali Sanskrit word for walking.

As leader of the volunteer group WALK – Across Cambodia, he has taken part in several similar charity events before, but this will be his longest trek yet. 

His motivation stems from a personal near-tragedy. Seven years ago, his sister received life-saving treatment at the hospital.

“The reason I decided to give back to the hospital is a story that my family will never forget. Seven years ago, my sister suffered from severe cirrhosis and spent around 50 days and nights in the intensive care unit (ICU). My family was preparing to bring her home for a traditional funeral,” he explained.

“Currently, my sister is healthy and preparing to graduate from the Royal University of Agriculture. She recently returned to Cambodia after completing an internship in Israel,” he adds.

For his epic trek, he has chosen the slogan “I walk, we want to see children walk”, in the hope that other families will see their unwell loved ones walk out of the hospital happy and healthy, as his sister once did.

His journey will take 15 days, from December 27 to January 10, with the sole purpose of raising money to buy medical supplies and equipment that will help children leave their hospital beds.

“I believe that every donation people make will help the treatment of a child and allow them to get out of their hospital beds and walk, run and play, just like all other children,” he told The Post.

“I want them to walk home happily and smile with their families,” he added.

According to the Angkor Children’s Hospital, there are currently 1,478 children in the critical care unit, 1,772 in the emergency department and 1,068 needing major surgery. The hospital desperately requires additional medical equipment to treat serious injuries and illnesses, and warned that the number of patients continues to increase.

All donations will be used to purchase the pins and wires used to reset broken bones, as well as other medical equipment that will help treat children with serious injuries.

Sokheng explained his choice of the word Yeardtraa, noting that walking is more than a simple form of exercise.

“It helps us stay healthy, improves our respiratory system, and makes our body strong and beautiful,” he said.

“Because of health factors relating to a traffic accident and being overweight, I cannot run long distances or play active sports like before, so I choose to exercise by walking instead,” he adds.

Although he cannot run like he used to, he and the WALK – Across Cambodia volunteer group have taken part in several treks to raise funds to help needy families have a healthy and better future.

“These trips created long-lasting friendships between us and the Khmer families we met. We learned about the lives of people in remote, deprived areas, far-flung hospitals and schools,” he said.

He plans to walk from 4am to 9 in the morning and from 3.30pm to 8 in the afternoon, and expects to cover between 40 and 60 kilometres a day. Accommodation and recovery time will involve camping, sleeping in tents or hammocks and asking for hospitality in people’s homes or monasteries.

The Yeardtraa campaign will begin at Phnom Penh’s Knotted Gun Statue and end at the Angkor Children’s Hospital in Siem Reap town.

Sokheng will travel along National Road 5 and pass through seven provinces: Kandal, Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap.

He aims to raise 126 million riel (approximately $31,500) for the hospital.

“Every donation from local and foreign donors will facilitate the purchase of medical equipment, save children with serious illnesses and injuries, and ensure that the children of the Kingdom will continue to receive free treatment,” he said.

“Children are the new bamboo shoots, the next generation of our society. On behalf of the wider family of all Khmer, I encourage everyone to participate in this campaign and donate according to your ability, whether it be money, materials or any other activities that will help to meet our humanitarian needs,” he added.

The Phnom Penh Post, Post Khmer, and SR News are proud to be media partners with Walk – Across Cambodia, and hope the campaign will promote charitable activities, healthy lifestyles and generosity.