Thank you to TownePlace Suites by Marriott Detroit Allen Park for providing us with comfortable accommodation and breakfast. We invite Soleil from the hotel to join us later in the day for our community run.
Divendra leads us on our way to our first appointment.
Children are waiting for us at Downriver YMCA in Southgate.
And Mayor of Southgate Joseph Kuspa is on hand at the 'Y'. The Peace Run has enjoyed the goodwill and presence of Mayor Kuspa many times over the years. He is a selfless and dedicated man who serves his community well.
Finding New Zealand on the map.
Alex sees if the children can guess that he is from, the State of Ohio.
A moment of silence for peace.
Thank you to Jacqueline Ford of the Downriver YMCA! It was such a joy to meet you and share the Peace Run with your club.
Cheers!
The Peace Run is pleased to present the Torch Bearer Award to Mayor Kuspa. His service to Southgate community spans many decades. Countless lives for the better because of his dedication. And he wears many hats, the 'buck always stops with him'. The trust his community places in him is well founded. Thank you Mayor Kuspa, you are a true Torch Bearer.
Mayor Kuspa very enthusiastically leads the children on a run around the YMCA grounds. Once a torch bearer, always a torch bearer!
A champion in the making. The only thing missing here is the 'finish line' ribbon.
A staff member leads the children in singing us a farewell song, "See you later alligator ...."
Thank you to everyone at the YMCA for a spectacular event.
Gints leads us on towards the State of Ohio.
We are greeted in Toledo at St Martin de Porres Church, where members of the parish have gathered to hold the torch and pray with us.
Sister Ginny Welsh receives the Torch Bearer Award for her selfless service to the community.
The community have made a wonderful buffet lunch for us.
Now we run on to meet children at the Boys and Girls Club of Toledo.
Alex leads the children in a run around the field.
The children challenge Alex to a race. We have seen Alex run a 3100 mile race. But can he sprint?
Oh yes he can!
Roxana leads us towards Glass City.
Toledo is very proud to have a beautiful network of Metropolitan Parks.
In Glass City we are welcomed at the National Museum of the Great Lakes and given free entry.
The Museum includes a tour of a large cargo vessel, used for transporting iron, coal and produce across the Great Lakes.
Our final appointment of the day is at Toledo Spain Plaza. This neighbourhood, the Old West End, suffered a traumatic experience earlier this year which involved gang members opening fire on each other at the annual festival. No one died, but several innocent bystanders were injured. Today we are gathered to celebrate the neighbourhood's tradition of welcoming people from all around the world, it's dedication to tolerance and peace. The city was dedicated as a Sri Chinmoy Peace City 33 years ago on this very day and a new plaque has been installed.
Mayor Wade is pleased to present a Proclamation to the team proclaiming "Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run Day" in Toledo.
Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz arrives to hold the torch and share a message of goodwill to everyone.
Evan Gaynor is a running coach who we met in Santa Fe on the Peace Run in May. When he heard we were coming to Toledo, his hometown, he arranged for a community run to be held in conjunction with the ceremony to install the new plaque.
Evan leads all the runners on a run through the Old west End.
Soleil from the TownPlace Suites joined us.
A big thank you to Bhaktiananda (left) for organising all these events in Toledo.
Everyone is a mix of happy and sad as our dear friend Alex finishes his last day. Seen here with his friend Jeff. We are so happy to have had Alex join the team for a time, and sad that he is now leaving us. Alex, you are always welcome on our Peace Run team!
