Preetidutta gives some TLC to the sponsored Toyota RAV4 hybrid - an ever-steady work horse on the 800 km journey.
Luckily this peace flame is safe with these fire-fighters, who happened to inspect a call next door to our school visit. Dan gets to be a big kid hanging out with these special service-men.
Actions to the World Harmony Run song as the Golden Grove children take part in our last school programme. Golden Grove School is situated in Onehunga, Auckland.
The words to the song: "Run, run, run, run, run ,run. World Harmony Run. We are the oneness and fullness of tomorrow's sun."
The feeling of peace.
Some skits are performed and the children have to judge if the actors are being peaceful or not.
A race is on...but it may not be a fair race!
Fair play...playing together harmoniously.
This boy has lost his marbles! Were the others kind to him?
No...some unkind things were said!
Singing a Maori song, "Te Aroha" meaning "love".
This is the teachers' turn to run with the torch, much to the pupils' delight!
A surprise visit by New Zealand's Peace Run director! Jogyata Dallas first organised a relay in the late 1980's - and organised a dozen runs around the country since. Some celebrities who he has introduced the Peace Run to include singing legend Paul McCartney, running great John Walker and former New Zealand Prime Ministers Jim Bolger and David Lange. Look out for him at the next trail half-marathon, as he trains and races competitively to this day.
Golden Grove's very own Peace Tree is an olive which was dedicated a few years ago.
The school has a community garden.
Tom Barrows of Auckland City Toyota, who kindly sponsored a RAV4 for the Peace Run.
A special evening event was organised at the Indian Lounge restaurant in Mt Eden. Pictured with the team here running legend and now champion of bike paths in Auckland City, Allison Roe. Allison famously won Boston and New York and smashed the women's world record along the way. She is the New Zealand Peace Run patron and was a friend of the late Peace Run founder, Sri Chinmoy.
Olympic, Commonwealth and world class athletes are seated here. Winston Sweatman (front left) has won a silver for Scotland in judo in the Commonwealth Games. Standing next to Allison is her friend New Zealander Harita Davies who has 3 times run the longest certified footrace in the world, the 3100 mile race.
Friends of the Peace Run came to share their love for peace, oneness and harmony.
We were delighted to have Sarah Cowley-Ross, 2012 Heptathalon Olympian, and her husband, 3 times Olympian Angus Ross, at the dinner.
Introduction by the director of the New Zealand Peace Run, Jogyata Dallas.
The current team introduced themselves to the guests with a guessing game which they play with the schoolchildren! Daniel hails from a country that has 11 official languages, including Zulu, Sotho, English and Tswana....South Africa. Other members are from Czech, Australia and Vera has family from both Russia and Ukraine as she lived near the border.
Sarah is the proud recipient of the Peace Run Torch Bearer Award, given to members of sociey who inspire others to be happier, more fulfilled human beings. She is a motivational speaker and also promotes women and girls in sport. Other notable recipients include Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Tennis legend Billie Jean King and Allison Roe.
The Peace Run choir renders a few compositions by Sri Chinmoy on the theme of peace. Sri Chinmoy founded the first Peace Run in 1987. It was known as the Liberty Torch Relay as runners ran across the U.S.A. Since then the bi-annual trans-American Peace Run has started in front of the United Nations in New York with delegates and international runners in attendance.
This is our good friend, Kenji Watanabe, Chairman of the New Zealand Universal Peace Federation. He will be attending a peace conference in Korea in a few months.
The flame is bright - within and without.
Holding the latest issue of their publication, Vegetarian Living, are our delightful friends, Ina (editor) and Sharon (writer). They are budding runners and are looking forward to entering Auckland City Marathon's 11 km race. Exercise and diet are both excellent pathways to well-being.
Alan Barwick remembers meeting Sri Chinmoy and also New Zealand director, Jogyata. He is pictured with his wife, Allison.
