Year 5 student Sha Bloom with Bayarkhuu Batbar from The Peace Runners.
Camera IconYear 5 student Sha Bloom with Bayarkhuu Batbar from The Peace Runners. Credit: Supplied/Andrew Ritchie        d445444

Runners step up to promote world peace and friendship

Kate LeaverStirling Times

The Peace Run, which ended at Mirrabooka Square, brought together an international team of runners from Mongolia, Great Britain and New Zealand, who ran from York to Albany and returned through Perth.

Along the way, the team stopped at schools, councils and community centres, staying in accommodation donated by hotels.

The run was founded in 1987 by Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy who hoped the run would inspire people to find unity in diversity.

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Peace Run spokesman, Woodlands resident Prabuddha Nicol said the run highlighted that world peace was a common goal.

“The peace run brings together people from around the world with the idea that we can all make individual steps that contribute to world peace,” Mr Nicol said.

“The faster we can run towards that goal, the better.”

Peace Run participant Grahak Cunningham, who did his first run in 1998, said the event made people think about how they could contribute to world peace.

“For me, it really brings out the best in people – you only meet people who are really positive on the run, which really inspires you to do more for peace,” Mr Cunningham said.

“I’ve done runs in Iceland, Malaysia, China, New Zealand and across the Nullarbor.

“Along the way, it’s the children who are really inspiring – the children at Doubleview primary did a lot of artwork for us and sang songs about peace, it was really touching.”