Runners bring message of peace to Kimberley

Bearing a torch ablaze and a message of world peace, a group of international runners passed through the Kimberley last week as part of the Australian leg of the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.

The team arrived in Broome last Tuesday, where they were welcomed by community members before continuing their journey through the region.

Over the following days, they ran 220km north-east to Derby, then continued on to Fitzroy Crossing, and later Halls Creek, spreading their message of unity and goodwill.

Starting on April 24 in Canberra, the Peace Run has seen the team travel through major cities including Melbourne, Hobart, Sydney, and Adelaide before reaching Western Australia.

National co-ordinator Stacey Marsh said: “The main objective is simply to share the message that peace starts inside the heart of each one of us.”

“We all make a difference in the world through our own thoughts and actions. It’s also about highlighting the great things happening in every community.”

The Peace Run was founded in 1987 by Sri Chinmoy, an Indian spiritual leader and peace advocate who believed in fostering harmony through symbolic acts of unity and friendship.

Sri Chinmoy started the run to inspire people worldwide to embrace peace within themselves and extend it to others, transcending borders and cultures.

Since its inception, the Peace Run has become a global relay, passing through over 150 countries and involving thousands of runners. In Australia alone, the current leg covers about 15,000km, weaving together communities large and small in a shared vision of peace.

The torch itself has been carried by notable figures such as Nelson Mandela and Pope Francis, symbolising a universal hope for harmony.