On 9 December 2020 at Terd Prakiat Building, the Thai Red Cross Society (TRCS), Mr. Grisada Boonrach, Director of the Thai Red Cross Chapters Administration Office, TRCS, received laser pointer walking sticks from representatives of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital (KCMH) ; Prof. Ruenroeng Leelanukrom, M.D., Deputy Director for Services of King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, and Prof. Roongroj Bhidayasiri, MD., FRCP., Director Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders. The 2,096 walking canes will be distributed to people with Parkinson’s Disease in 77 provinces across the country as New Year gifts. The Presidents of Nonthaburi Red Cross Chapter, Samut Prakan Red Cross Chapter, Chai Nat Red Cross Chapter and Ang Thong Red Cross Chapter also participated in the handover ceremony.
The walking canes were created by Chulalongkorn Centre of Excellence for Parkinson’s Disease and Related Disorders, KCMH, since 2010 with the aim to improve walking and balancing abilities of patients with Parkinson’s. Over the period of 8 years, the model has been continually developed, a recent model of the cane features laser beams from the underside of the handle showing a straight green light on the ground. The light lets the users know if the path ahead is uneven, as well as a slightly curved-out design to better prevent users from falling over. Those who are interested in receiving such walking canes may contact an official LINE ID: @lasercane for more information.
