NZ Peace Run culminates with torch relays around Marlborough

When the regional leg of an international relay came to Marlborough last Friday, students’ faces lit up as bright as the torch they got the chance to carry.

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run culminated a weeklong trek along the east coast of the South Island with a sequence of stops in Blenheim.

Swinging up from Seddon School, which the runners visited Thursday, they started the final morning at Richmond View School, headed to Blenheim School, met Mayor Nadine Taylor, loped with Bohally Intermediate students to their campus, then wrapped the run at Rapaura School.

“Children and teachers showed tremendous manaakitanga – welcoming kindness – in Blenheim,” effused Daniel Rubin, the organisation’s NZ team leader. “The Peace Run program teaches the children how to prevent conflicts and build a more peaceful environment in their own community. The simple message of the programme is that peace begins with you and me.”

The group’s message resonated with adults, as well. Bohally students joined Rubin and his fellow peace runners in Council chambers, where they spent a half-hour with the mayor.

“It was wonderful meeting with them,” she said later that afternoon, “and I love the idea of them coming to the schools. We often see ourselves at the bottom of the world. Through this peace run, Marlborough is linked to the rest of the world, part of a whole – an important whole that we should aspire to, with the presence of peace in our community.”

‘What an honour’

The movement is indeed worldwide. Since its first run in 1987, the organisation has brought the torch to over 160 countries and millions of people.  NZ members conduct relays across various parts of both islands.

“Blenheim was a really meaningful day for the Peace Run,” Volunteer Coordinator Emily Oliver said.  She recounted how Richmond View students passed the torch hand-to-hand with wishes for peace and “offered a beautiful blessing for the team as we continued on to share the message of peace.”

Bohally’s student representatives “were great ambassadors for their school,” Emily added, escorting the peace runners to Rapaura, too. “They covered more than 5km with real determination and joy.”

Blenheim School welcomed the peace team just as warmly. Principal Kellyann Thorstensen appreciated how the runners exposed her students to something new yet wholly aligned with values which her staff instils.

“What an honour,” she said of the visit. “These guys run around the whole world, and they stopped here in little old Blenheim.”

Visit www.peacerun.org/nz for more information about the organisation.