Homewood Suites/Hilton in Charlotte were very kind to the men's team as they offerred us a beautifu and spacious suite for the night.
Everyone there was quite friendly and helpful. They really seemed to understand our message and our mission to inspire peace as we carry the Peace Torch and share it with as many people as possible.
The women's team had a very nice complimentary accommodation at the Quality Inn and Suites for the night also. Shakira and Ziana hold the torch with our two runners this morning.
The fearless women's team prepares for another day on the road.
Tavishi from Australia gets her torch ready for action.
A moment of silence to invoke peace before her run.
And she's off and running.
Akbota offers peaceful music on her special instrument from Khazakstan which looks like a cross between a violin and tiny cello.
Akbota then takes her turn to run.
Just to remind us of where we are in our North American Peace Run which includes three countries. Can you name them?
Yashodevi was running well this morning also.
At one point she realized that the rest of her team was no where to be found.
...Then a very friendly local woman, Wanda, helped Yashodevi to find the rest of the team after getting lost on a very tricky route. Another example of Southern hospitality.
Samunnati enjoys some of the grassy areas as she runs down Hwy. 21 this morning.
Watch out for that tractor, Luana.
They finally reach South Carolina, the eighth state we have run in so far.
On the way to the ceremony our men's team stopped for a photo next to this classic old car. Which runner in the photo is older than this car?
Allen, the Fire Chief at the Fort Lawn Fire Department, enjoys a moment with the torch as he leads us to the station.
Our team enjoys a moment on one of their big fire trucks. It could come in handy when we carry the torch through the more dry areas of the southwestern states.
After a short ceremony with some of the locals who kindly came to join us,
Allen accepts our Certificate of Appreciation on behalf of the volunteer firemen at the Fort Lawn Fire Department.
Richard Hulse, a former Fire Chief holds the torch with Allen, the current Fire Chief. Allen's step-daughter, Kyla, and Adrien, a Fire Captain( in the white cap), also came to greet us and offer their goodwill for which we are very grateful.
A few moments for some soccer practise.
The girls finish their run through town.
Time for some fun after lunch in the R.V. (Recreational Vehicle or Camper Van)
Beautiful blossoms everywhere as we head into really warm climates.
Now it's the men's turn to carry the torch towards our next destination.
Jumping for joy or did he just see a snake?
Peaceful surroundings with lots of trees was the order of the day.
Puroga is ready for action.
Time to wash the car.
We ended our day at the wonderful Harambe Ethiopian Restaurant. Hanna and Dessie accept our Certificate of Appreciation. The food was incredibly fresh and delicious.
We are grateful to Hanna and Edom for their kindness in offering us a wonderful Ethiopian dinner. Their kindness and self-giving humility was enough to satisfy even the hungriest of runners. We are happy that world class runner Dessie Demlew joined us after dinner. He is a student at nearby Benedict College and a native of Ethiopia.
