On 25 February 2021, Air Chief Marshal Airbull Suttiwan, Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF), received 500 Royal Laser Pointer Canes from Mr. Khan Prachuabmoh, Director of the Fund Raising Bureau, the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS). Asst. Prof. Ruenreong Leelanukrom, M.D., Deputy Director of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, TRCS, Prof. Roongroj Bhidayasiri, MD., Director of Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, TRCS, and Mrs. Janprapa Vichitcholchai, Deputy Director of the Fund Raising Bureau, TRCS, also participated in the handover ceremony at Reception Hall 1, RTAF. The RTAF will hand over the walking canes to medical units operated under the Directorate of Medical Services, RTAF, for distribution to patients with Parkinson’s and those with walking disabilities.
Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, KCMH, TRCS, created and innovated the walking cane that shoots laser beams on the ground, which allows patients to take longer steps and improves their walking abilities and also quality of life. With the benevolence of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Executive Vice President of the TRCS, the walking cane was named Royal Laser Pointer Cane. The latest model allows users to press the handle to shoot lasers and adjust lasers’ range according to personal walking steps. The cane is lightweight and chargeable, can stand without holding, and has a curvy end to reduce stumbles. The manufacture of these walking canes was supported by the Fund Raising Bureau and KCMH of the TRCS, and also the Department of Older Persons, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Since June 2020, more than 3,500 Royal Laser Pointer Canes have been given to patients with Parkinson’s and those with walking disabilities.
