From Doubt to Determination: What Prae-wa Learned on the RED23 Doing Good Ride

When 20-year-old Prae-wa signed up to join the RED23 Doing Good Ride, she wasn't feeling confident.

In fact, she was worried.

"I don't cycle very often," she said. "When I heard the ride was 500 kilometres, I thought there was no way I could do it."

It was a big challenge. The distance felt overwhelming, and she wasn't sure how her body would cope with long days in the saddle, cycling through the heat, wind, and fatigue. But there was something that made her say yes.

Prae-wa was curious.

She wanted to understand why people travel from different parts of the world to ride for the kids at Baan Tharn Namchai. She wanted to experience the journey for herself and see what it felt like to be part of something bigger.

That curiosity became the first step.

The first day wasn't easy.

Prae-wa remembers feeling exhausted as her body adjusted to the long hours of cycling. There were moments when her legs hurt, her energy was low, and she wondered if she could keep going.

But every time she felt like stopping, someone was there to encourage her.

The riders, the Hands Experiences Thailand team, P'Game, and her friends from Baan Tharn Namchai reminded her that she was doing better than she thought.

"They kept telling me that I had already done well," she said. "Even when I felt like I wasn't doing very well myself."

Along the way, there were plenty of memorable moments too. She laughed about forgetting her rider card on the first day and falling off her bike after accidentally riding into the back of fellow rider IKQ.

"There I was, lying on the ground like a starfish," she laughed.

There were also simple moments that stayed with her, like hearing the laughter of Maya, one of the RED23 supporters, and sharing conversations with the riders. Sometimes she understood every word, and sometimes she didn't, but she enjoyed every interaction.

What surprised Prae-wa most wasn't just how far she could ride. It was how much she learned about herself.

"This journey helped me understand myself better. I learned that I can do things that I am afraid of."

She discovered that she was stronger than she had imagined. She learned that challenges often look bigger before we face them, and that taking one step at a time can make the impossible feel possible.

The ride also gave her the chance to see parts of Thailand she had never seen before. As she cycled past forests, coastlines, and open landscapes, she realised just how much there is to explore in the world around her.

As the riders made their way closer to Baan Tharn Namchai, Prae-wa felt a mix of excitement, warmth, and gratitude. She knew there were people waiting to welcome her home.

Most of all, she saw firsthand how much effort the riders put into supporting the kids and young people at the home. She watched people encourage one another, work together, and keep moving forward even when things became difficult.

The experience left a lasting impression.

"The RED23 ride changed how I think about life and the future," she said. "It made me realise that obstacles are often not as difficult as we think. The important thing is not to give up."

Looking ahead, Prae-wa hopes to become someone who is strong, patient, and able to create opportunities for others, just as so many people have done for her.

And for anyone feeling nervous about trying something new, she has a simple message:

"Don't be afraid to try. Every step you take helps you grow, and in the end, you'll be more proud of yourself than you think."

The most meaningful part of the journey wasn't reaching the finish line. It was discovering what she was capable of along the way.