International Torch Run Promoting Peace Comes to St. Cloud [VIDEO]
ST. CLOUD - The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run made a stop at the St. Cloud YMCA today (Wednesday) to talk to campers about goodwill, harmony, and friendship. Executive Director Salil Wilson was among the runners.
The Peace Run is an international torch relay run going through about a hundred different countries, founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy, is a way to share the fact and celebrate the fact that we're a one world family, and there's far more that unites us as a one world family than divides us.
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
The YMCA campers spent the day preparing for the runners to arrive. YMCA Youth and Family Director Carolyn Schlichte says the campers made posters representing world peace. They also made their own torches just like the one that is carried during the Peace Run.
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
The Runners have been promoting self-esteem and friendship among children along their route that covers over 1,000 cities and 10,000 miles.
Wilson says the run gives everyone a chance to express themselves.
"Every one has the yearning for peace inside themselves, and the run just gives a chance for people to give expression to that, give life to that, through art, through poetry, through music."
The Peace Run has taken place in over 140 nations around the world. Schlichte says having the runners here in St. Cloud was a great opportunity for her campers.
"Who doesn't want to teach the world more peace, and have a little bit more goodwill through out the world."
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
Photo: Joshua Akkerman, WJON News
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