Gianluca Marangan, sporting a bright blue T-shirt, joined fellow runners at the Boys and Girls Club in Concord, with his peace torch held high.

It was more than just a ceremonial gesture — it was a symbol of their shared mission to spread peace.

On Tuesday morning, the runners of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run International had paused in Concord, during their 10,000-mile journey across the country.

The runners were not just traversing miles; they were uniting hearts and minds.

“We all love running and we love peace,” said Marangan. “Sharing this message with everyone really feels like we are offering hope to people, peace, joy and all the good things that are happening.”

Kicking off in April from New York, this peace run was as much about the camaraderie and shared dream as it was about the miles. Each day was a new marathon, with four teams rotating through 60 to 70 miles, each runner covering approximately seven miles.

But the challenge extended beyond the physical.

The team managed meals, laundry and kept each other’s spirits high through four grueling months of travel.

With runners hailing from Croatia, Latvia, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Australia, New Zealand, Slovakia, Austria and other countries, they showcased a shared dream of peace transcending borders and backgrounds.

“We are one global family from different countries, religions and backgrounds. But to the core, we all want the same dream — peace,” said Marangan, of Slovakia.

As the runners meet people across the country, it has been a refreshing contrast to the often negative headlines of the news.

Marangan said that despite the grim portrayal of the world, there is still a great deal of peace and joy left.

For many of the runners, this wasn’t their first experience with the Peace Run.

Mahasatya Janczak from Poland had participated in the run in the U.S. a decade ago. This year, he joined the team in Seattle.

Reflecting on the changes he’s observed, Janczak noted a growing desire for peace among people. But he found that children’s understanding of peace remained pure and uncomplicated.

“Children are all heart,” he said. “They’re spontaneous and you don’t need to explain peace.”

This simplicity was evident in the interactions with the kids at the Boys and Girls Club.

When asked what peace meant to them, the children’s responses were clear — a place without wars.

For over 35 years, the Peace Run has traveled through more than 160 nations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia, connecting with people from all walks of life.

Marangan’s message to people everywhere is that peace starts within each person’s heart.

“When you have peace inside of your heart, and you cultivate peace inside of your life, peace will spread to your actions, through your thoughts,” he said. “By changing yourself, you have made a big step in changing the world.”