International torch relay for peace to stop in Detroit during 10,000-mile journey

It's one small step for man, millions of steps and a burning torch for mankind.

The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run, the world's largest international torch relay in the name of world peace, will be running 79 miles from Dexter to Flat Rock with a stop in Detroit on Wednesday, July 31, in the afternoon, passing the peace torch along the way.

The relay's team of international runners from 10 countries left from New York City in April to embark on a 4-month-long journey running the peace torch across the U.S. and through three Canadian provinces before returning to New York in mid-August. Detroit is the 37th out of 46 stops on this year's 10,000-mile USA Canada route.

Since its beginning in 1987, the Peace Run has relayed through 160 nations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia to allow people from around the world to express their longing for peace , meeting with schools, youth organizations and local officials along the way.

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After 37 years, the Peace Run says the torch has been carried 400,000 miles − about as much as the distance it takes to run to the Moon and beyond − and has involved over 7 million people and many important figures since its inception. This year, the USA Canada route is expected to involve over 50,000 children from over 1,000 cities and towns.

Before arriving in Detroit, the Peace Run team's last stop was in Michigan City, Indiana, on July 28. After Detroit, they're headed to Toledo, Ohio, on Aug 1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: International torch relay for peace to stop in Detroit during 10,000-mile journey