Early this morning we had to get to the David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center to beat the rush of traffic on a busy street where this school, along with a high school and a University, were all situated in close proximity. It was quite inspiring and energizing to see hundreds of young people coming to the various schools and scurrying around to get to their respective classes.

We were waiting in the Library/Media Center for a closed circuit broadcast anchored and videod by the children themselves in their broadcast newsroom. After their daily announcements were made live on their school TV station, they interviewed Salil Wilson, our Executive Director, along with Principal Bernard Osborn.

After the morning update we gathered outside with some of the children and teachers who would run with us to the nearby high school track for a big ceremony there.

The 'Girls Run for Fun' running group of young girls and their coaches led us with the Torch a few blocks away and around the track a few times. There were about a hundred other children with their teachers in the stands with large and colorful signs welcoming us and cheering us on as we had a mini-harmony-peace run for a half-mile.

Vice-Principal Blanca Correa-Cespedes helped to organize the event along with some of the other dynamic teachers and running coaches: Sarah Kouri, Janette Nieves, Shoshi Bogis, and Allison Haberstroh. This very enthusiastic and fit group of staff members offered the children the opportunity to be part of our worldwide event and to offer their own expressions and efforts for peace and harmony.

As we sang our World Harmony Run theme song after our exciting run, the children joined in as some of them even acted out the words to the song. They also were very keen to try and feel the source of peace and harmony in a moment of silence as they focused on their hearts. This sense of inner peace and harmony which can then manifest in the world as outer peace and harmony is at the core of our philosophy and seems quite universal in its acceptance at all ages.

We regret that we have to say goodbye to Miami and all the great people we met there after only two days.

We are grateful for the opportunity to visit this very energetic and creative school and to share with them these very hopeful and positive experiences. We also owe a debt of gratitude to our local Miami coordinators, Drishti and Surjay Pliske who arranged this uplifting meeting for us in advance. Needless to say they also fed us well and offered us accommodations for two nights while we were in Miami for which we are extremely grateful. Without them none of these meaningful events would have happened.

After being treated to breakfast we had to drive quite a few hours northwest to Fort Meyers on the Gulf Coast of Florida. On the way we stopped at a very popular park in the Everglades call Shark Valley.

I am not sure why it is not called 'Alligator Valley' instead, as there are plenty of alligators and no sharks. We saw dozens of alligators of all sizes as we walked along a canal deep into the heart of the Everglades Park.

The wildlife here is outstanding. There are many beautiful birds hunting and nesting there as well. Hundreds of tourists and visitors were able to enjoy seeing the wildlife in its natural habitat in harmony with man and nature at this wonderfully maintained Everglades park.

The Everglades are a natural region of subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river 50 miles (80 km) wide and over 100 miles (160 km) long, flowing southward across a limestone shelf to Florida Bay at the southern end of the state. The Everglades is a huge natural 'carbon sink' which absorbs carbon dioxide and releases vast amounts of oxygen into the environment for hundreds of miles, helping greatly to maintain a naturally balanced and healthy atmosphere.

After our excursion into this large natural wonder, we finally arrived in Fort Meyers where we were kindly welcomed by our dear friends Cathy Oerter and Prakhara Harter. These two hard-working peace lovers have been working tirelessly for over a month to arrange many events in the days to come for us to participate in. Pranlobha from Seattle also joined the team after flying in from Seattle with another runner on our team, Rupasi.

Cathy and Prakhara prepared a great meal for everyone in Cathy's beautiful home which was situated across the street from a white sand beach on the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

The condo also has a beautiful view of the bay just opposite the Gulf.

The inside decor was pristine and very colorful with original paintings by Cathy's late husband, Al Oerter. Al was a four time Olympic Discus thrower who won Gold Medals in four consecutive Olympics, 1956,'60,'64,'68. His creative output was just as dynamic and inspiring as his athletic achievements. In 2005, Oerter was approached to present a show of his artwork in Fort Myers, FL. To create a greater impact, Oerter reached out to a group of Olympians, who in the mid‐1990’s mounted a successful world art tour.

Al entitled this exhibit, Art of the Olympians, to represent a fusion between the sport and art arenas educating both audiences and artists. In November 2006 "Art of The Olympians" was showcased in three separated exhibitions in New York City: The National Arts Club, The New York Athletic Club and The United Nations.

Oerter’s vision did not stop there. With perseverance and inspiration, Art of the Olympians Foundation was born. Now, Olympians will be able to showcase their artwork, assist in both youth and community outreach programs, inspire creativity and motivate individuals to achieve greatness.

Art of the Olympians (AOTO) is now a global learning center, which brings together Olympic athletes to promote the highest ideals of humanity. Through their creative talents, AOTO is able to provide programs of art, education, sport and cultural outreach to showcase the sport/art relationship and begin to inspire the world.

For more information visit: www.artoftheolympians.org

We are sincerely grateful to Cathy Oerter, who not only carries on the ideals of her husband Al, but who, in her own personal life, embodies those ideals and shares them with others selflessly and cheerfully.

– Arpan

Team Members:
Arpan DeAngelo (New York), Prabhakar Street (Canada), Salil Wilson (Australia), Lunthita Duthely (Florida), Durjaya Pliske (Florida), Drishti Pliske (Florida), Niyojita Purevsuren (Mongolia), Hilda Tirado (Peru)

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

Gallery: See more images!