Thinley Namgay

The Bhutan Raven Motorcycle Club has contributed Nu 1 million (M) to the government’s COVID- 19 contingency fund yesterday in Thimphu.

Club’s General Secretary, Dawa Gyeltshen said that the donation is a gesture to take part in nations fight to contain the COVID-19 and also as a part of being responsible citizen at a time of national need. “We want to lead with example.”

“As soon as the COVID-19 case was reported, our members went to Siliguri to purchase mask for the people. But the price of the mask is high compared to the normal rate and we couldn’t. So we decided to contribute to the government,” Dawa Gyeltshen said.

Currently, the club is providing refreshments to Desuups, health officials and the volunteers who are screening commuters at Phuentsholing.

Refreshments worth Nu 175,000 has been provided so far.

The club has a good reputation owing to its charity activities.

The club donated Nu 1M to the Phuentsholing general hospital to purchase life saving equipment in 2018 and also agreed to support the Happiness Centre in Phuentsholing with Nu 1M this year to make the centre self-sustainable to help the youth.

They also supported the Phuentsholing hospital during the dengue outbreak last year with fuel, refreshments and vehicle expenses.

“We also provided electric filters worth of Nu 220,000 to all the schools in Phuentsholing dungkhag in 2016. Coinciding with our foundation day, we have been donating namza and ration to the monks of Namgay Choeling Dratshang in Phuentsholing since 2016,” Executive Member, Rabten Wangyal said.

The charity activities are not only confined to Phuentsholing.

In 2017, they contributed concert gho and kira to Merak Primary School under Trashigang and also donated mattress, pillow, blanket, and bed sheets to Duenmang Tshachu (hot spring) in Zhemgang. Bedding sets to remote schools of Rukha Primary School and Taksha Primary School under Wangduephodrang were also given last year.

Dawa Gyeltshen said that the charity works are being carried out with the financial support from its members and fund raising activities in Phuentsholing. “The fund gathered from the fund raising activities is solely for the charity.”

The Phuentsholing based Bhutan Raven Motorcycle Club is a non- profit club established on June 21, 2013. Currently, the club has 28 members.

The Club’s Riding Captain, Sonam Tshering said that their intension was not to increase the members unless the person has genuine feelings to work for the society. “Currently, all our members are cooperative.”

“While selecting the member for the club, we take that person for the trial race mainly to understand the character. Finally, all the members will vote and it has to be 100 percent,” Sonam Tshering said.

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