Why are vital services being funded by celebrity-led campaigns?  

It is no easy task running 2,191 kilometres across country from south to north, over 55 days. Not to mention the physical and mental toll on him. Over Bt40 million was donated on the first day of the run. 
Taking a wider perspective, however, if state funding was adequate there would be no need for Toon’s charity run. And the real “heroes” would be the state government and taxpayers. When schools, hospitals and other public goods require funding from charities like Toon’s, it doesn’t bode well for any government. The state’s responsibility is in effect being outsourced to private individuals. Will there be a run to build a new airport in Chiang Mai? Charity concerts to build parks in every province? 
At a deeper level, it illustrates how celebrity-saturated our culture has become. Many onlookers seemed more eager to take a selfie with Toon than to support his cause. If an ordinary citizen were to champion the same cause (buying hospital equipment), success would certainly not be assured. It doesn’t reflect well on our society that we are only willing to do good deeds if a celebrity is involved. Well-informed citizens – which collectively make up a strong and democratic nation – ought to be moved by causes alone rather than the “face” that leads them. Similarly, we ought to be moved by reasons and arguments rather than the personality who expresses them.  
The day that Thais donate generously for a great cause (for example, anti-cancer research), minus celebrities, is the day Thailand has reached maturity.
 Edward Kitlertsirivatana