June 8, 2014 Live from the road

Long Beach, CA - Casitas Springs, CA

Reported by Anna Khimchinskaia, Arpan DeAngelo, Jennifer Cluck 98.0 km

The team joined local runners at the Belmont Plaza Pool.

Community Activist Justin Rudd began the 4 mile relay to the lighthouse at Shoreline Village.

Long Beach resident and business owner Jeffrey Lee proudly carrries the torch down scenic Ocean Blvd.

University of Toledo track star Colin Bernard was honored to carry the torch.

Passing the torch along the way.

Maribeth Sythe showing off her stride. Go Long Beach State!

Pedro gives an enthusiastic thumbs up for Peace!

Running and cycling are very popular in Southern California, the bike path lines the beach for miles.

Long Beach Harbor is nicknamed "The Aquatic Capital of the World".

These local soccer players are also fantastic runners.

Sandro might have a new career as a Los Angeles Paparazzi..

As we approached the lighthouse, the sun broke through the cloudy sky blessing us with sunshine and a beautiful view.

A crowd of peace lovers gathered at the lighthouse to welcome the runners.

Thank you to Metropolitan Design for providing refreshments.

Team member, Jennifer Cluck, brought her super supportive family to the event! Pictured here are her nephews, Atticus and Wyatt Lee, holding up hand made torches.

Sierra Sythe (center) was the fastest runner in the group. She has been running since she was a year old.

The team introduced themselves and played the country guessing game. We were so impressed with the geography of the participants.

A view of the Queen Mary Ship.

Andy Sythe, the track and field coach from Long Beach State University, was the recipient of the Torchbearer award. Coach Sythe is pictured with his wife Maribeth, daughters Sierra, and Callie June.

We also honored Justin Rudd with the Torchbearer award for his achievements in the Long Beach Community. We presented both recipients with paintings by Sri Chinmoy for World Peace.

The biggest kid in our team, Dennis, has fun rolling down the hills with the children.

Harita and Anna were happy to meet Jeff at beautiful Hermosa Beach where we jumped in the ocean in between ceremonies.

Coach Harry Mitterbauer founder of Run MDR, the famous Marina Del Rey running club, welcomed us to his store and fitness center.

We were so happy to be joined by a few of the Run MDR club runners.

Jayne Slozllosy from the Run MDR running club began the journey.

Diana Chang was full of enthusiasm and smiles.

Lori Hamilton Sharp from Oxnard sprints along the boardwalk!

Dennis paused to strike a pose at muscle beach.

The world famous Santa Monica pier enchanted us as we ran along the boardwalk.

Crossing Wilshire Boulevard...

As the team ran in to our Santa Monica ceremony we stopped at the lights and there was our newest team member, Natabara, straight off the plane from New York and ready to run the afternoon miles!

Magdalena Kuehne, Masters Track and Field star was honored for her outstanding achievements in athletics. At age 83 she maintains the world record for triple jump.

Marv Thompson, founder of the Los Angeles Patriots Track and Field Club. Marv has coached star athletes for 35 years. Awesome job Coach Thompson!

Author and Illustrator of over 400 children's books, Caroline Arnold was given the Torchbearer award for her dedicated work with and for children. She also has been promoting reading readiness in children for many years in schools all over the state. She is pictured with her brother Pujari, a long time Peace Runner. Caroline has also been a big supporter of the Peace Run since it began, back in 1987.

In Hollywood we were so excited to be invited to the exclusive Paramount Recording Studios.

In this highly professional facility there was a gathering of top musicians from various aspects of the recording industry who came to offer their time to record two very special songs for peace.

Two of the many excellent singers who came to show their support and share their beautiful voices with us.

Kevin Flournoy - songwriter, music producer, keyboardist, receives our Torch Bearer Award . He composed two new songs "Courageous" and "Take It On High" especially for the event that was held at Paramount Recording Studios.

Kevin humbly accepts the award.

Sheet music of the two beautiful songs being recorded signed by most of the Peace Runners.

We also gave Kevin with a painting by Peace Run founder, Sri Chinmoy, entitled "Peace Is Our Life Breath". Presenting the painting is Prakhara Harter, who helped coordinate this wonderful event with Kimberly Maxey. We are extremely grateful to Kimberly, who is a good friend of Cathy Oerter from Art of the Olympians, one of the participating organizations in this project.

We also presented Kevin Dorsey with the Torchbearer award. Kevin has worked for decades in the recording industry with voice-overs and singing and producing for many well-known movies and music productions.

Torch Bearer Awards are awarded to those individuals who serve the community in uplifting ways through their excellent work and untiring service.

The two Kevins and one of the excellent singers.

Suhasini at the controls.

Kimberly Maxey and Kevin Flournoy with Diana and Frank Curcio from 'Hearts for Romania' who were very friendly and supportive of today's event.

We were invited to watch the musicians and singers, including Lamont Dozier, Jr.,(center), Lewis Price and others at work in the studio.

Waren Vaughn, famous rap artist, offers his goodwill and beautiful smile for peace.

Kevin Dorsey at the mixing board.

Golden records of some famous artists behind a golden team of some of our famous Peace Runners..

Percussions for peace.

Hollywood's 'Walk of Fame' was a little side trip of some of our runners.

Sekou Bunch, a great bassist, hard at work.

Another great singer and two excellent runner/sisters and Prakhara, our Coordinator for this event who helped make this all possible.

"I wonder how snakes feel about Peace?" Papaha ponders..

Spider Man wrapped his webs around the torch.

Wow this is a long way from Slovakia!

At Manns Chinese Theatre.

We always meet plenty of "characters" on the run.

Super-Devendra!

Goodbye Hollywood..

Hello malibu!

The girls were all smiles running along the Malibu coastline.

Harita met many enthusiastic Peace lovers running along the beautiful Highway One route in Malibu.

A big thank you to Nature's Grill in Ventura for providing wonderful meals for the team.

Please send us a message, we would LOVE to hear from you!

See who is sending us messages.

Torch carried by
Agragati Siegel (United States), Anna Khimchinskaia (Russia), Arpan DeAngelo (United States), Bashata Cimesa (Serbia), Bigalita Egger (United States), Dennis Gribok (Luxembourg), Gautami Sýkorová (Slovakia), Harita Davies (New Zealand), Homagni Baptista (Australia), Jennifer Cluck (United States), Mahasatya Janczak (Poland), Mahiyan Savage (United States), Manoshri Sykorova (Slovakia), Natabara Rollosson (United States), Papaha Gosline (United States), Prakhara Harter (United States), Pujari Schaffer (United States), Sandro Zincarini (Italy), Sarvodaya Grygoryivskyy (Ukraine), Suhasini Septiarini (Indonesia), Sujantra Mckeever (United States), Utpara Lin (United States).  
Photographers
Bashata Cimesa, Dennis Gribok, Harita Davies, Sandro Zincarini
The torch has travelled 98.0 km from Long Beach, CA to Casitas Springs, CA.

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