by Amy Modesti
On a Tuesday morning, along the rolling hills of Brunswick, a peace runner running to Clums Corners with a burning blue torch hands it off to Eastwick Press photojournalist, Amy Modesti, to signify the passing of peace and love in transit.
New York City resident, Natabara Rollosson, was the torch runner. Rollosson, along with two marathon runners, Arpan DeAngelo and Pavaka, stopped at Clums Corners to speak with The Eastwick Press about the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run that they’re involved in and its mission to spread peace.
“Sri Chinmoy was a leader of peace in New York City who tried to inspire through many, many activities such as sports, arts and music. He traveled around the world meeting people and inspiring world leaders as well,” said DeAngelo. Sri Chinmoy founded the run in 1987 and along with the formation came a simple message: “World peace begins within the heart of each of us, and that we all have a unique role to play in making our world a true oneness-home.”
The peaceful global relay has traversed more than 160 nations, covered over 370,000 miles and has touched many lives through the gift of peace, love and torch holding within each community, state and nation. The torch has been held in the hands of greats Muhammad Ali, Pope Francis, Queen Elizabeth II and Mother Theresa.
The runners get together and plan their runs out a year and a half or six months ahead of schedule. Sometimes, they’ll take a run through Canada and the United States to make it international. Sometimes they run in Mexico or through all fifty states.
Concluding the meetup, the runners were going to Bennington. One other runner who joined Rollosson, DeAngelo and Pavaka post-conversation, took over Rollosson’s role and headed east towards Cropseyville. Through June 18, the runners will travel through New York City and Upstate NY, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Boston, MA, Providence, RI, New Haven, CT and back to New York City.
Peace is found within your heart and the only way to spread it to others is being kind. To keep up on where the runners are traveling and learn more about Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, go to www.peacerun.org.
