Passing the torch for peace

The kids at the Boys and Girls Club of Kootenai County will be participating in a global torch relay run, the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run.

On Friday, they will meet at the club at 12:30 p.m. to pass the torch and listen to presentations before the runners head out on the 93-mile leg of the run, from Spokane to Murray on Interstate 90.

The team consists of participants from seven countries, who are spending four months to complete the 11,000-mile relay in the U.S. to help promote peace, harmony and friendship.

The relay began in New York City in April, and will link the U.S., Canada and Mexico before it returns to New York in August.

They will be meeting with schools and youth organizations along the way to share their message. 50,000 children in more than 1,000 cities will participate in the relay, and runners will provide educational presentations to spread a message of self-esteem and unity of mankind.

The Peace Run was started 30 years ago by Indian spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy, a noted artist, philosopher, poet, athlete and musician, as a way to promote world peace. More than 6 million people have participated in the Peace Run since it began in 1987.