A heartfelt thank you to Holiday Inn Express Carpinteria for providing comfortable accommodation for the girls team. We deeply appreciate your kindness and support.
With deep gratitude, we offer our Certificate of Appreciation to Best Western Plus Carpinteria Inn for providing overnight accommodation for the boys' team.
An early morning run was the perfect start to the day for joyful Atulya.
For our first ceremony of the day, we gathered at Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens to meet Sue DiCicco Smith. She is a prolific writer, illustrator, sculptor, former Disney animator. She founded Armed with the Arts, a program dedicated to encouraging creative expression in kids. She is the creator of the Peace Crane Project with participation from over 150 countries. Through her visionary initiative Sue has connected thousands of children, schools and communities around the world, encouraging them to share the message of hope, friendship and peace through the timeless symbol of the folded crane. It is a great honor for the Peace Run team to present the Torch Bearer Award to Sue.
Sue graciously accepted the award and shared her heartfelt reflections on peace, along with a message of gratitude and appreciation.
A group photo with Sue and her good friend Gloria.
After the first ceremony, the girls' team hit the road toward Santa Maria. Here's Dhavala starting off with her swift and energetic strides.
Carlos from Guatemala stopped by to hold the Peace Torch.
A passing truck pulled over to learn more about the Peace Run..
Kevin and his son James were delighted to meet the Peace Run team along their long-distance cycling journey.
Running into City Hall of Santa Maria.
We received a warm welcome from Gloria Flores, City council member "Mayor Pro Tem" at City Hall on behalf of Mayor Alice M. Patino.
Following a brief presentation about the Peace Run, we concluded with a few songs composed by Sri Chinmoy.
The City of Santa Maria presented us with a Proclamation.
Chelsea Sperakos, Executive Assistant to the Mayor and the city council member joyfully held the torch.
Only the peace-dreamers, peace-lovers And peace-servers Can transform the world. -Sri Chinmoy
