Hearththrob Tono’s ambitious bid to swim across Mekong is not quite winning hearts

Actor Phakin “Tono” Khamwilaisak will swim 15km from Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand to Khammouane province in Laos and back to raise funds for a Thai and a Lao public hospital. - The Nation

BANGKOK (The Nation/Asia News Network): Actor Tono Phakhin wants to do good for society by swimming across the Mekong River, following in the footsteps of Toon Bodyslam who once embarked on a much-lauded charity run, but finds himself caught in the crosshairs.

When Toon Bodyslam ran 2,215km in 2017 to raise funds for hospitals, he won overwhelming public praise and support. This year, Tono Phakin planned an alternative version of fundraising by swimming across the Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province, but his plan has apparently drawn more criticism than praise.