King Athelston Primary School, Kingston was our first visit of the day, the Harmony Run team now boosted by the addition of Michaela and Manoshri. London organisers Devashishu and Sahadeva Torpy were also on hand to run the odd yard.

Arriving early the runners stood in the corridor just before they were about to enter the Gym for the presentation when, for the second time in three days, the fire alarm went off, kind of embarrassing as it was Salil who was holding the Torch at the time.

Nevertheless the children took it all in their stride and gave the runners a very warm welcome when they entered the hall for the presentation.

The video went down a treat with the children and despite the onset of light drizzle the children ran for ages around their playground before the runners had to say goodbye and run to the next school, some 10km away.

The route the runners took went through Richmond Park, an enormous public park quite close to the centre of London where hundreds of deer live. The park is 2360 acres and is Europe's largest urban walled park.

It was raining as we ran through and down to Robin Hood gate and on to St.Michael’s School, Wandsworth and the loudest welcome the World Harmony Run has received in England. The school band was playing the Harmony Run song as we entered the Gym and we were welcomed by the Worshipful The Mayor of Wandsworth, Councillor Thom and the Headmistress, Mrs Grant.

The children were the loudest so far and their three cheers at the end as the runners were leaving was really impressive. Many thanks for all the hard work of the musicians, under the guidance of Sahana Gero, put in to make this such a memorable event.

The rain continued as the runners left for the final school of the day, All Farthing School, also in Wandsworth. Deputy Head Sue Abrahams organised the meeting and lined the children up throughout the building and the children passed the torch hand to hand out of the gym and along the corridor and up the stairs to the next floor. Across that floor and then down the other stairs down to the ground level from the second level. Unfortunately we couldn’t take pictures here.

These children had also learnt to play the Harmony Run song on woodwind instruments, again, taught by Sahana Gero.

After the torch holding, school was over and the runners went outside and lots of parents were keen to hold the torch as well with their children. The bright and cheerful faces and high energy rounded off a great day visiting schools in South London. Many, many thanks to all the teachers and children who offered their heart power to the Harmony Run.

Distance: 40km

Team Members:
Ondrej Vesely, Rosta Vagner, Katka Prusova, Ivana Nemacova, Michaela Pokorma (Czech Republic), Manoshri Sykorova (Slovakia) Balavan Thomas (England), Abichal Watkins (Wales), Jarek Werner (Poland), Terezia Hammel (Hungary), Ieva Kurzemniece and Anette Klavina (Latvia), Annemarie Beumer (Netherlands), Salil Wilson (Australia)

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