We are extremely grateful to the Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville NY for hosting the men's Peace Run team last night. Everyone had a great night's sleep. We wholeheartedly recommend this hotel to anyone looking for a great place to stay.
Our heartfelt gratitude once again to Annie the Great and Good, pictured here with some of her grandchildren. Annie most generously provided accommodation to the women's team last night. She also organised a fantastic dinner for the entire team. Annie's wonderful friends and family also came and contributed. It really helped us to recharge our batteries!!!! Annie has been supporting our USA Peace Run for years and years and years.
The men's team began running out of Ellicottville.
Nature's beauty along the way...
Our next event meeting was at the Boys and Girls Club in Boston, NY.
The children were great at guessing where each runner came from, after hearing clues, and also accurately pointed out the countries on our map.
The men's team acted out unpeaceful and unkind behaviour, and the children passed judgement.
The women's team acted out peaceful behaviour.
We really appreciated the beautiful artworks that the children had prepared, ahead of time. Anita from Croatia took a closer look.
There was an opportunity for children to share the Peace Torch that has been held by millions of people over the decades since the Sri Chinmoy Peace Run began in 1987.
We also gave out special Peace Run cards.
We went for a short run with everyone.
The women's team ran out of the Boston Boys and Girls Club.
The second meeting with children was at Hamburg Youth Center.
We focused together on imagining a peace torch inside our own hearts, and then imagining that the light from our own torch offers peace to those around us and then across the world. It is the philosophy of the founder of the Peace Run, Sri Chinmoy, that peace begins in the heart of each individual, and that if we can all become a little more peaceful, we can really help to create more peace in our daily lives, our communities and beyond.
We demonstrated peaceful and unpeaceful behaviours once again. The men were in a slow motion sprinting race....
With Gintz pushing the other competitors over.
The women acted out an injured runner being carried to safety by her fellow runners.
Harita spoke about the very special role that Youth Club workers and teachers play in the community, by being such loving, kind and nurturing influences on children.
We went for a short run with the children around the grounds.
The counsellors also ran a special lap around the children.
Everyone had a chance to hold the Peace Torch.
The Youth Centre was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation signed by all the runners.
Thanks to the Hamburg Youth Centre for hosting us!
People we met throughout the day were happy to show support and hold our Peace Torch.
Meeting a cheerful family passing by Southtown Music in North Boston on our way to Niagara Falls.
At 3pm, we met with representatives of the Canadian Peace Run team near the USA Buffalo side of Niagara Falls. We all shared a moment of silence together and reflected on the special relationship that America has with its close friend Canada.
Medur from Canada (far left) lead some singing.
Shivaram the Great from Toronto sharing stories and his wisdom.
Left to right: Devashisu from Britain, Kautuhalam and Anvita from Canada.
USA Peace Run Co-Director Harita from New Zealand (left) and Karnayati from Canada share some kind words. We presented a Certificate of Appreciation to our Canadian brothers and sisters.
A group photo before we ran over to the USA side of Niagara Falls.
Some of us boarded one of the tour boats with the Peace Torch.
It was an amazing experience to be immersed in the ever-increasing mist of the falls, to find oneself seemingly surrounded by white curtains of water falling from the sky, and to join the escalating laughter and screams of delight of the other boat passengers.
Thank you and farewell Niagara Falls!
And finally we have to give a huge shout out to Blaze Pizza in Buffalo who spontaneously provided our team with delicious free pizzas for dinner.
We gave the Pizzeria a Certificate of Appreciation signed by the team. The pizzas were all super delicious!
