The VEGRUN charity running event, promoted by Taiwan’s Pure Green Foundation, has once again sparked a wave of enthusiasm on the campus of the South Island of New Zealand. On 23 September, the third VEGRUN charity running event was held at Hornby High School, with more than 220 students led by Vice Principal Karen Wheeler participating in the run. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) New Zealand Venerable Abbess Manshin, FGS Christchurch Minister in charge Venerable Juexi and Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) South Island members went to cheer on the runners. A charity donation was also held on the day, with Abbess Manshin representing the temple and donating NZD $1,500 to be accepted by Vice Principal Karen, and the funds raised were later donated to the New Zealand Food Bank to help those in need.
The running event was held on the campus playground with a distance of 3 to 7 kilometers. The participants were students aged 11 to 12, dressed in sports and school uniforms, happily running on the playground and expressing their joy for the VEGRUN event. Each student gave it their all and enthusiastically participated, boosted by the enthusiasm of the BLIA members, running even more vigorously. Some students quickly reached the finish line, while others persevered even when out of breath. Some students greeted the BLIA members with lotus hand gestures while running, while others picked up trash along the way. Many students intentionally kept their race bibs and hoped to participate again next year. The innocence and liveliness of the students were fully displayed.
Vice Principal Karen was delighted to see the students fully engaged in the event and said that this VEGRUN event was due to the good interaction established between the school and the temple over the past five years. From the beginning of inviting students to participate in the 3G4G Festival of Culture sharing activities at the temple, to last year during the severe epidemic, when the temple and the association donated epidemic prevention materials to the school, which deeply touched the school. The principal stated that participating in the “VEGRUN” event was the best way to give back to the temple, while also allowing students to learn about Buddhist activities, especially to run for greening the earth with the BLIA members worldwide, which is very meaningful.
To add meaning to the running event and to thank the students for their participation, the temple prepared water with the Great Compassion Mantra and apples representing “peace” and “auspiciousness” for the students. The event ended successfully, bringing a perfect conclusion to the South Island’s VEGRUN event for BLIA members. The three VEGRUN charity running events to be held by the BLIA South Island members in 2022 have received enthusiastic responses from Christ’s College, St. Thomas Catholic School, and Hornby High School, allowing the community to feel the liveliness of Humanistic Buddhism and allowing Buddhism to take root and sustainably develop in the local community.
