Peace Run carries message of friendship and understanding
Participants from eight different countries stopped in Swift Current this morning when the Sri Chinmoy Openess-Home Peace Run journeyed through the community.
Began by founder Sri Chinmoy in 1987, the Peace Run has traversed over 100 nations across the globe, and the 16,000 kilometre North American leg of the 27th anniversary run includes stops across the United States, a day in Mexico, and a portion of Western Canada and southern Ontario as they make their way back to New York where this leg of the run began back on April 11.
In the Southwest the Peace Run contingent also made stops in Gull Lake and the Cypress Hills Provincial Park where campers at Camp Shagabec participated in a mini relay around the lake.
Runners at the Swift Current stop were representing Slovakia, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Italy, Poland, Australia, the United States and Canada. A small group participated in Yoga in the Park for Peace, there was a seven kilometre torch run along the Chinook Parkway, plus there were Torch Passing Ceremonies in both Riverdene Park and one at Riverside Park with partici- pants of the City Parks and Play Summer Program.
The aim of the event was to promote international friendship and understanding.
Prapti Jensen, the lone Canadian participating in this portion of the Peace Run, noted that the torch represents the flame that burns inside each person.
“If we can all find our own inner flame and pass it on to the community around us, we can create a much more beautiful world. I think each and every human being tries to do that in their life, to become a better citizen of the world.”