Colvin Closing on Malaysia
Superfit Butch Colvin is close to achieving his ambition to become the first man to run
the entire length of Thailand. The 46 year old US Navy reserve officer has passed the
southern city of Hat Yai, having completed 1909 kilometres in 69 days, and is now en route
for the province of Yala. He has a further 220 kilometres to go before reaching Betong on
the Malaysian border - and journey's end. Colvin's run is called "Challenge Thailand
- The Run for the Children", and is aimed at highlighting the worldwide problem of
child prostitution, a subject which deeply disturbs him. It was seventeen months ago
in Saudi Arabia, where he is employed as a consultant to the Royal Saudi Naval Forces,
that Colvin began preparations for the marathon run. He trained in the searing heat of the
Arabian desert near Jeddah before coming to Thailand to commence the 'Challenge' last
November 22nd at Mae Sai on the northern Thai border with Burma.
Raised in the dairy farming community of Kansas in the northeast of Oklahoma state,
Colvin graduated with an associates degree in criminal justice in 1973 then joined the US
Navy to whom he gave over 16 years active service.
He has served on submarines, as a diver, and with special boat units and currently
holds the rank of lieutenant commander in the US Naval Reserve.
Since completing active navy duty in 1991, Colvin has lived both in Thailand and Saudi
Arabia. His first contact with Thailand was in 1984
while with the US Navy Special Warfare Unit in the Philippines, when he was assigned to
train the Royal Thai Navy at Sattahip on the Gulf Of Thailand.
He fell in love with the country and now regards it as his second home. Colvin is
divorced with two daughters; Tina who lives in St. Louis, Missouri, and Cassie who lives
in Washington, DC. His mother, Peggy, still lives in Kansas, Oklahoma, close to his four
brothers and a sister. He has another sister living in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Butch Colvin expects to reach Betong on the Malaysian border on February 16th (Chinese
New Year).
Note to editors: Every effort will be made to keep to the finish date of February 16th
at 10:00 hours Thailand time (03:00 GMT).
