YAANA Ventures’ Walkathon Supports Eight Asian Charities

The walkathons took place on February 1, 2026, in Nonthaburi and Khao Sok in Thailand; Kandy, Sri Lanka; Sanur, Bali, Indonesia; Vientiane, Laos; Yangon, Myanmar; Cebu, the Philippines; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Koh Kong and Phnom Penh in Cambodia.

Team effort

Khiri Travel offices in all eight of its operating countries organized local walks, and VHG Hospitality Asia projects Anurak Community Lodge in Khao Sok, southern Thailand, and Cardamom Tented Camp in Koh Kong province, southwest Cambodia also organized walks.

Management, staff, and suppliers of six YAANA Ventures companies — Khiri Travel, VHG Hospitality Asia, Cardamom Tented Camp, Anurak Lodge, HMP, Khiri Campus, and partners Naruna Beyond Retreats – raised funds on each walk.

Outreach

The Khiri Reach charitable foundation will deliver the funds raised to:

• Thanks Giving Home in Nonthaburi, Thailand, which supports the elderly.
• The Forest Healing Foundation in Digana, Kandy in Sri Lanka, which protects and restores forests.
• The Bali Children Foundation, which supports children’s education.
• Phoning Hospital in Vientiane, Laos, which supports people with disabilities.
• The Ywar Thar Gyi Mental Hospital at Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon, Myanmar, which supports people with disabilities.
• CRST Project B — Bicycles for Education in Cambodia, which donates bicycles to poor children upcountry to get to school.
• Zapatera Elementary School, which supports deaf and hard-of-hearing elementary school students in Cebu, Philippines.
• Saigonchildren in Ho Chi Minh City, which supports children’s education.

The five-kilometre charity event is the second annual walkathon organised by YAANA Ventures and Khiri Reach. There were also fundraising ‘bikeathons’ in Vietnam in 2017 and 2019.

Tourism as a force for good

Natalie van Ogtrop, Sustainability Manager of YAANA VenturesNatalie van Ogtrop

Natalie van Ogtrop, Sustainability Manager of YAANA Ventures, says the aim in 2026 is to deliver on a commitment to tourism as a force for good in local communities.

“At YAANA, we use The Long Run’s 4Cs of community, conservation, culture, and responsible commerce,” she said.

“This framework inspires us to create projects such as the walkathon, with the aim of giving back to local communities and helping people who need support, such as disadvantaged children.”

Ms van Ogtrop added: “We are pleased that many suppliers who work with YAANA brands will be joining us on the day.”

YAANA Ventures expects more than 200 participants in the walkathon regionally.

Fundraising walking routes are diverse, ranging from big city nature parks and beachside locations to remote upcountry national parks.
Join the walk

There is still time for travel industry members to join the walk and/or donate.

Donations can be made to any of the charities via the Khiri Reach foundation. To find out more, email sustainability@yaana-ventures.com.