The Team

Stacey Marsh, New Zealand

Steve Elliott, Australia

Drishalu Grunstaudl, Austria

Emily Oliver, New Zealand

Amalendu Edelsten, Australia

Pathik Kozub, Czech Republic

Lumir Ostadal, Czech Republic

Udayachal Senkyr, Czech Republic

Abhejali Bernadova, Czech Republic

I think my first Peace Run experience goes back to 1996 or 1997. Since then I took part whenever I could, either organizing or running or both. Only in recent years I was able to join for longer periods of time – 2008 was my first “more than a few days” Run. It was part of the US leg. I planned to stay for 3 weeks, but then had to change my flight to stay for a week longer… It is always very difficult to leave the Peace Run / Harmony Run world, I usually have tears in my eyes. Two years later I joined for another part of the Run, this time for 4 weeks right away. Last year I went to Ireland and the United Kingdom.

The Peace Run is the best way to learn about a country – by seeing it at 10km/h speed. You can feel the breath of the country and its people as well as see its outer beauty. You also make very good friends on the team, which is great.

Salil Wilson, Australia

My first experience with the Peace Run was running from Adelaide to Brisbane. Those first few weeks, particularly from Adelaide to Melbourne were absolutely magical. I was twenty-four at the time and I remember getting back into the van after each Run and being so happy and grateful to be having this remarkable, larger than life experience. I loved everything about it - the movement, the newness, the beauty, the people, the children - it was and still is heaven.

I am extra-ordinarily fortunate to be able to serve as Executive Director - it is the most rewarding and enriching thing that I can do with my life.

Prachar Stegemann, Australia

Prachar has participated in every Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run and World Harmony Run held in Australia since the event's inception in 1987, both as a runner and organiser. This year he is coordinating the Run's involvement with the Canberra Centenary, and joining the team where time permits.

Harita Davies, New Zealand

Helena Mazakova, Czech Republic

Zina Palic, Moldova

Varunavi Glabnikova, Slovakia

I work in an international organization associated with the United Nations which provides support for health systems in the least developed countries.

I love multicultural environments and I am a keen promoter of oneness among nations and cultures.

Among other sports I enjoy a lot besides running are skiing and beach volleyball.

Antara-Prabhat Kalajian, USA

Oyungerel Seded, Mongolia

Bayarkhuu Batbayar, Mongolia

Asankita Bell, New Zealand

Nelson Myers-Daly, New Zealand

I am so grateful I can be part of the Australian peace run this year. I have been fortunate to have run the Peace Run in quite a few countries and by being part of this, it has shown me how beautiful the world is, especially the people.

The reason why I am part of the peace run is because it gives me a wider view on cultures, religions and countries and how they all rely on one quality which is love.

Grahak Cunningham, Australia

Akanda Norov, Mongolia

Hastakamala Diaz, Australia

Anubha Baird, Australia

Rathin Boulton, Australia

I first participated on the Peace Run in 2007, where I ran from Townsville to Brisbane in my one-time home state of Queensland. I plan to run a similiar route this year! Besides the Peace Run, I have taken part in a few multi-day running races, including the Self-Transcendence 3100-Mile Race (four times), and the Self-Transcendence six-day race.

This time I plan not to repeat mistakes from previous years, which involved, among other things, a) trying to catch up on foot to Sunshine Coast ultra running legend Gary Parsons with a couple of bottles of water to slake his thirst, whilst he remained an ever-receding dot on the horizon, b) not resetting my watch to account for the half-hour time difference between South Australia and Victoria. We thought the local school was unusually glad/relieved to see us when we arrived!

Roos de Waart, Holland

Sukhajata Cranfield, New Zealand

Irina Pobeda, Russia

Saranyu Pearson, Australia

Ion Frunza, Moldova

I came to know about the World Harmony Run/Peace Run in 2005. Before, I only had heard something that people are running with a flaming torch and meet people, and there is such joy… This was all I knew when I came out of our van full of eager runners, at the border, to welcome in Moldova two other vans full of eager runners from all Europe. That was also the moment when I learnt that the next 5 days I will translate the meetings we would have in the cities along the route.

So it started for me and, although my running capacity at that time was not impressive, the promised joy and smiles were not long to wait. It was all about meeting kind people, passing to them the Torch and all the cheerfulness and goodwill it brought from other kind people, from so many countries… It is always so inspiring to share happy moments with people we meet on the road, to have that intimate feeling that you have just met your friends, and that all we are members of a family as big as the world.

With the experiences I had through years on the Run in Moldova, Romania, Ukraine and Russia, now I foretaste my coming on the Peace-Blossom Continent Australia to join the Peace Run from Adelaide to Canberra. What a great adventure awaits me! It will be my longest participation in the Peace Run.

Elsa, Argentina

Samalya Schaefer, Germany

Noivedya Juddery, Australia

Tom McGuire, New Zealand

Kaspars Zakis, Latvia

I have been part of the Peace Run in Europe and Russia, and had the privilege of being the Peace Run coordinator for Latvia.

Australia is the nicest country I have been to!