World Harmony Runners – global torch relay visits Peace Mala HQ

Global torch relay heads to Wales to promote international friendship and visits Peace Mala HQ and the Youth Awards

world harmony run

On Thursday 20th September 2007 a team of runners from the World Harmony Run arrived in Fishguard, Wales towards the end of their 27,000 km journey through 49 European countries.

World Harmony Runners arriving at the entrance of the Peace Mala HQ
World Harmony Runners arriving at the entrance of the Peace Mala HQ

For the next 4 days, the Run meandered through South Wales, being welcomed at various ceremonies along the route, culminating in Cardiff on Monday 24th September when the runners visited the Senedd and also took part in the Peace Mala International Awards for Youth at the WCIA Temple of Peace.

The World Harmony Run is a global event staged to promote international friendship and understanding. Runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand, between members of thousands of local communities, covering a total of 40,000 km through more than 100 countries.

The European segment of the World Harmony Run started in Lisbon, Portugal, on 7 March 2007 and culminates in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, on 9 October. By its finish, hundreds of thousands of people will have participated.

World Harmony Runners in the Peace Mala garden
World Harmony Runners in the Peace Mala garden

Along the route, runners visit schools, community groups, running clubs and local and national government organisations. At these stops they celebrate the goal of world harmony as well as recognising people in the community who work towards it. On Friday 21st October, the International Day of Peace, the runners arrived in Morriston, Swansea to call at the registered office and peace gardens of Peace Mala. Pam Evans, the founder of Peace Mala, commented:
“It was an absolute joy to meet and welcome the world harmony runners. To see the runners with their lit torch entering Clydach Road and then Peace Mala HQ was truly wonderful. Our time spent in the peace garden was especially magical and spiritually powerful. The World Harmony Runners carry with them a powerful energy for world peace. What they are doing fits perfectly with the vision of Peace Mala. I am delighted that they have also promised to join us for the International Youth Awards on Monday. This will certainly add another dimension to our celebrations.”

Pam Evans holding the World Harmony Runners' peace torch
Pam Evans holding the World Harmony Runners’ peace torch

During the Awards ceremony Pam was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the runners. A few days later, the following message was received from the runners; “We all loved the Peace Mala Day and we are still wearing our Peace Mala beads.”

The torch relay is actively supported by many top athletes, among them Carl Lewis (USA), 9-time Olympic Gold Medallist, Paul Tergat (Kenya), current Marathon World Record Holder (Men) and Tana Lebedeva (Russia), Long Jump Gold Medallist Athens 2004. In addition, the Run has many friends, including world leaders such as Nelson Mandela and Mikhail Gorbachev.

Launched in 1987 by Indian athlete and philosopher Sri Chinmoy, the Run is now an annual event. It is co-ordinated by the Sri Chinmoy Marathon Team, which organises more than 500 athletic events each year.

The World Harmony Run does not seek to raise money or highlight any political cause, but simply aims to create goodwill among people of all nations and strengthen a sense of international friendship and understanding.

For more information about the World Harmony Runners and their founder Sri Chinmoy, explore the following websites:

http://www.worldharmonyrun.org
http://www.srichinmoy.org

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