Hua Hin Heroes has successfully raised more than 1 million baht in a matter of weeks to aid victims affected by severe flooding in Chiang Rai.
The funds, totalling just over 1,000,000 baht, are currently being used to provide essential supplies to those impacted.
Adam Clark, co-founder of Hua Hin Heroes, recently returned from his second trip to Mae Sai, where he led a volunteer mission to deliver supplies and assist with flood recovery efforts. Joining him on the trip were fellow co-founder Henrik Fagersson, volunteer Eric Michel, and Joe Drew, owner of Le Smash Club and Tennis Academy.
Adam’s choice to embark on his first unplanned journey was inspired by the devastation he witnessed on the news. His actions ignited a tremendous response from both the Hua Hin community and his fellow Hua Hin Heroes. “It’s incredible that from one spontaneous decision to help, an entire community rallied together,” he reflected.
“We flew into Chiang Rai, but the visible damage is minimal now,” said Clark. “It’s in Mae Sai where you see the real challenges – military teams are out in full force with bulldozers and diggers. The mood among the people, despite their losses, has been incredibly positive. You saw locals and volunteers working side-by-side, with small acts of kindness everywhere, like elderly women cooking bananas for anyone who walks by. So you really do see Thailand and Thai people at their best.”
Adam explained that older residents have been particularly affected, having lost what little they owned. “The older generation is struggling the most. We met a woman who invited us into her home and showed us she had nothing left. We promised to bring her and her husband new beds to make them comfortable.”
Photo from the Hua Hin Heroes trip to Mae Sam on Nov 3, to distribute the remaining supplies and complete the clean-up efforts.
Cleaning homes buried in mud posed a significant challenge for the volunteers. Adam described a labour-intensive process involving soldiers, volunteers, and community members. “It took us two full days to clean just one house, even with the help of 30 soldiers. The mud is heavy and must be softened with water before we can shovel it out. Once the army cleared the heavy debris, we helped by removing damaged furniture, cleaning, and delivering fresh bedding.”
The funds raised were used to buy critical supplies, including mattresses, rice cookers, gas hobs, and bedding. The team also purchased pumps and pressure washers to assist with further clean-up operations and donated a washing machine to a community centre where young volunteers had been washing their clothes by hand after long shifts.
Adam said that equally as challenging as the clean-up is distributing the aid.
“By the time we get finished, we will have bought and distributed close to 300 mattresses. That’s pretty much an entire warehouse full of beds we need to ensure we get to the families most in need.”
The money raised came from a mix of community support and creative fundraising efforts.
Local restaurants, including Daddy Deli and Andreas Trattoria, launched initiatives where the purchase of a meal generated an equivalent donation for flood relief. Schools in Hua Hin also played a role, with children from the Junior Asia Golf Academy organising a car wash fundraiser, and even some students of Halio International School donating directly to the cause.
“One of the most touching moments was when two little girls at Halio offered me their dinner money,” Adam said. “At first, I tried to refuse, but the teacher explained it was part of their merit-making. Their small donation of 120 baht will go towards providing a blanket for someone in need.”
The Hua Hin Heroes team is not done yet. On Nov 3 they returned to Mae Sai to distribute the remaining supplies and complete the clean-up efforts.
The decision by the Hua Hin Heroes to close the Flood Relief to further donations is due to their focus on the construction of a new Learning Centre (library and computer room) at Baan Wang Khoi School, a long-planned project funded by the group and their kind supporters. “We’ve now signed the contract, and construction has just started,” Adam said.
Adam confirmed that once all money has been spent, Hua Hin Heroes will be publishing all receipts so that supporters can see that 100% of the money raised was spent on flood victims.
In addition to their flood relief efforts, Hua Hin Heroes has announced two upcoming events to raise further funds for their charitable projects. On 8th February 2025, the group will host the Hua Hin Heroes Charity Golf Cup at Pineapple Valley Golf Club. The tournament will feature a four-man Texas scramble format, with participants enjoying free-flow food, beer, and prosecco throughout the day, followed by a wine dinner at The Terrace Restaurant.
Another major event, the Hua Hin Heroes Running Festival, will take place on 13th September 2025 at Black Mountain Water Park. Runners of all abilities will be able to take part, with distances ranging from 2km to 100km. The festival will also include ice baths, food stalls, and live music, creating a vibrant atmosphere for participants and supporters alike.
Reflecting on the overwhelming support from the Hua Hin community, Adam spoke of his gratitude. “What started with a few friends and family quickly grew into something much larger. The generosity of people here has been amazing. We’re grateful to everyone who has contributed.”
Photos from the Hua Hin Heroes trip to Mae Sam on Nov 3, to distribute the remaining supplies and complete the clean-up efforts.