Running from New York, down to Florida, across to Oklahoma and California, up and through Washington, over into Illinois and, finally, up to Vermont, a relay group carrying a peace torch passed through Concord on Monday.
Participants of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, which aims to promote international friendship and understanding, stopped by the Boys and Girls Club to show the kids what they’re all about.
In the lawn outside of the Boys and Girls Club, kids even had the opportunity to join the runners for a brief loop before they headed down Route 3 and onto Loudon Road.
Baoyi Huang, a Taiwanese woman who belongs to the relay team that’s traversed the country, said that even though it’s tiring to run every day, the team always wakes up with strong spirits.
The international crew of runners rotates from week to week, month to month, but the mission is the same for all who carry the torch: “We are running for a very simple message,” Huang said. “For peace.”
Currently, there are 13 relay members from many countries, including Latvia, Croatia, Mongolia, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.
Huang said the run helps ground this abstract and subjective ideal of peace. She hoped to carry kindness and purity with her, believing that the runners can inspire others to lead lives that strive for peace.
The Oneness-Home Peace Run was founded by Sri Chinmoy, an Indian spiritual leader, in 1987. It has taken place in countries across the world to promote understanding and harmonious relationships that transcend cultural identity. The peace torch carried during the run represents friendship between people of all countries.
This year, to honor the United States’ 250th anniversary, the run is covering 10,000 miles and all 50 states. Executive director Salil Wilson has been there every step of the way, following runners in a car as they move through.
The Australian man was introduced to meditation at a young age and was asked by Chinmoy to oversee the run in 2004. He has served in this capacity ever since.
“Sometimes we hear about world peace, and it just seems like such a big thing that we could never make an impact on,” Wilson said. “But it’s as simple as being kind and nice and friendly and encouraging to one another.”
Devendra Cheatham, a 53-year-old man from Texas, was the first relay runner to head out for the day as the group made its way out to the Seacoast and Maine. He has participated in the peace run for 23 years, and this year has ventured from Detroit all the way out to Concord.
By Wednesday morning, the group will be in Providence, R.I. On Thursday, they will head into New Haven, Conn.