Feb. 17, 2020 Live from the road

Whangamata - Tauranga

Reported by Daniel Rubin, Niryana Marshall 90.0 km

Meeting the children at Waihi Central School.

The Peace Tree banner gets a leaf from Waihi Central School.

Placing a leaf on the travelling Peace Tree.

Olive tree dedication with a Peace Tree inscription.

It is a great honour to present Dr. Stacy Sims with the Peace Run Torch-Bearer Award that recognises individuals who continue to inspire others in all facets of life. Stacy, who is a Senior Research Scientist at Waikato University, is an eminent authority on optimising womens' training. She wrote the pioneering book ROAR that advocates a new approach to optimising women's performance in sport, and challenges existing dogma for women in exercise, nutrition and health outcomes. Previous recipients of the Peace Run Torch Bearer Award include tennis champion Billie Jean King and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Stacy is accompanied by her husband Steve, daughter Jera and her colleague Dr. Kim Hébert-Losier. Kim is a Senior Lecturer in Applied Biomechanics (clinical and sport) at the University of Waikato.
We are delighted that they came to Matahui School. Stacy charmed the school-goers by getting the children to guess which country she is from (USA). Kim seamlessly fitted into the team as if she had been running with us for months. She also gave the children some clues to guess her country of origin (Canada), which the students delighted in guessing. Kim ran 6km with the torch!

Stacy Sims, her daughter Jera, and Hastakamala from Australia lead the way with fantastic enthusiasm, to Matahui School!

Matahui students with the torch.

Pahoia School listen intently to Lakshmana.

The torch lights up everyone who gets a chance to hold it.

Some of the students with Dan running to Te Puna School.

Natali was one of the runners presented with an extra-ordinary contribution of art commemorating the UN's International Day of Peace. It will be part of an exhibition at the Colosseum in Rome on September 21. We were given hundreds of pieces of art from schools during the Peace Run.

Torch carried by
Daniel Rubin (South Africa), Harita Davies (New Zealand), Hastakamala Diaz (Australia), Lakshmana Kamalan (New Zealand), Mandra Laing (New Zealand), Niryana Marshall (New Zealand), Nurari Merry (Great Britain), Preetidutta Thorpe (New Zealand), Pushpendra Uppal (Australia), Sean Abbottt (Fiji), Vera Sevastiyanova (Russia).  
Accompanied by  
Natali Mena, Stacy Sims, Kim Hebert-Losier
Photographers
Niryana Marshall
The torch has travelled 90.0 km from Whangamata to Tauranga.

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