SANDPOINT — Councilor Pam Duquette smiled as she held up a piece of paper at the July 8 council meeting — a certificate of appreciation from runners participating in the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run. 

"They were so appreciative that we were there that they gave us a certificate of appreciation to the city of Sandpoint," she said. 

On June 28, participants from the Peace Run, a global torch relay, arrived in Sandpoint. 

She turned the certificate over and read the message from the runners, who offered “heartfelt gratitude” for Sandpoint’s “enthusiastic participation” in the event. 

Councilor Joshua Torres said the runners also took a scoop of sand from City Beach, which they plan to place with sand collected across the country at the site of a peace tree. 

Founded in 1987, the Peace Run has visited almost every country on earth. This year, relay teams will visit all 50 states to celebrate America's 250th anniversary of independence. 

Harita Davies, co-director of the American Peace Run, said each runner is united by the same goal. 

"The Peace Run is really a grassroots vision to share the message with everybody that peace starts with each one of us," she said. 

Davies said it was a stormy day when the group ran through Sandpoint last month. 

“It was raining, and we weren’t exactly sure how many people were going to show up,” she said. 

But to her surprise, a large group of cheering community members donned raincoats as they arrived. 

"Everyone was so enthusiastic," she recalled. "We really enjoyed chatting with them and meeting these people who are so dedicated to their community in their own way." 

The Peace Run has a long-standing relationship with Sandpoint. Kim Woodruff, former director of Sandpoint Parks and Recreation, began welcoming runners to the city in the late 1980s. 

With the turbulence of world events, Woodruff said it is refreshing to see the Peace Run emphasize a simple message. 

"They don't come in asking for money or anything," Woodruff said. "Their message is just peace." 

Davies said America possesses a unique quality of "enthusiastic oneness," a quality evident in Sandpoint as people gathered to support the runners. 

"A lot of people, when they come here from other countries, really notice that quality in America," she said. 

The relay-style of the run is symbolic of teamwork, Davies said. Each day, the four runners complete 25 miles by splitting the distance. 

"We don't have to do one big, huge thing ourselves," Davies said. "If everyone can take a few steps, then those steps really add up." 

Davies said the runners see this year's Peace Run as a call to bring to light the "inherent yearning for peace that we all have within our hearts." 

"We feel this sense of satisfaction that really overpowers the feelings of frustration and depression that we might get when we look at the general media," she said. 

Sharing the message of peace is infinite, Davies said, adding that the key to contributing is finding something to be a part of that "touches your heart."