Today we covered 99 miles, from the small rural town of Napavine into the big city of Seattle.

One team visited a boys and girls club in Tumwater.

The children were very excited to see us...

...and here about our adventures.

They had an excellent track to run around with the torch.

Our other 2 teams had a straight run into West Seattle to the Providence Mount St. Vincent nursing and residential facility. The Mount is a vibrant and innovative living care community to more than 400 older adults and others who need some type of assistance with their daily living or are in need of 24-hour care. An integral part of The Mount community is the award-winning on-site child care program, the Intergenerational Learning Center (ILC), with 125 infants and children. The Mount residents and ILC children are regularly engaged

in planned and spontaneous intergenerational activities and programs - such as welcoming the World Harmony Run to Seattle!

A large crowd of residents and their families and carers were gathered waiting for us and they cheered and waved enthusiastically as we ran past their front window and into the gathering.

As a crafts project, the residents and children made paper World Harmony Run torches together which they held high while they cheered as the World Harmony Runners entered the ceremony.

The Explorers Club preschool class painted the 15’ “Welcome World Harmony Runners” banner which was displayed with flags from around the world.

There was a mixture of seniors and juniors waiting for us, many of them holding their own home-made harmony torches.

We played our usual "guess my country" game and showed them a couple of dvd's about previous years and this years Run so far.

King County Executive Dow Constantine graciously attended and on our behalf presented the World Harmony Run Torch bearer award to Charlene Boyd. Charlene is Providence Mt St Vincent's Regional Administrator.

She has developed a wonderful system where the facility is sub-divided into smaller communities, giving a more personal and supportive experience to the residents and their families.

She also developed an "intergenerational center" where young and old alike can mix and work and play together, and has testified on human rights issues at the Senate. Her programs at Providence Mt St Vincent's have been copied and adopted not only around America but around the world too. A truly inspirational and deserving torch bearer.

Thank you to Daulot Fountain for so nicely emceeing the event.

Very special thanks to Eileen McCloskey, Recreational Activities Coordinator, for all of her efforts and enthusiasm to bring the World Harmony Run to The Mount. She and Sarah Kalagian had been planning the visit for two years!

After the formalities there was a chance for many people to hold the torch and add their wishes for peace.

The staff had then organised a relay walk on a quarter-mile loop around the building. One lady surprised everybody by sprinting off as soon as she got hold of the torch.

The kids enjoyed the relay too. Afterwards there was time for popcorn and icecream whilst chatting and exchanging news and experiences.

Our Congratulations & Thank yous:

To Providence Mount St. Vincent, “The Mount,” for welcoming the World Harmony Run to Seattle with this wonderful ceremony;

To The Mount Foundation staff – Molly Swain, Arlene Carter, and Jessica Fletcher--- for their roles in organizing and promoting the event;

To Albert Angkico for setting up the facility, and Ron Shissler and all the food service staff for catering refreshments;

To the “Apartment Residents Council” for their support and enthusiasm;

To the many volunteers who helped make today’s event special

Next was a team run to Seattle's Statue of Liberty at Alki Beach.

Friends were waiting there with a barbeque picnic by the river.

Thanks to Seattle City and our local co-ordinators for such a warm and enthusiastic welcome. We look forward to our weekend with you.

– Kokila

Distance: 99 miles

Team Members:
Atulya Lee Berube (San Diego), Mark Collinson (England), Kshetragna Ulanova (Russia), Surya Smolennikova (Russia), Vladimir Salnicov (Moldova), Kokila Chamberlain (England), Drsalu Gruenstaeudl (Austria), Maria Manecke (Germany), Jeromy Cheatham (San Diego), Abhejali Bernardova (Czech Republic), Sukhada Korshunova (Russia)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.

Gallery: See more images!