Tauranga woman to carry global peace torch

A Tauranga woman will today join the list of names to carry an international peace torch which has passed through the hands of Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and Pope John Paul II.

24-year-old Lydia O'Donnell was chosen as the torch bearer for the Tauranga leg of the World's longest, largest grassroots relay for peace, The Peace Run.

Read more about The Peace Run here.

The New Zealand champion runner said it meant a lot to her to be chosen to run in the international event in her home town.

"It's kind of crazy to get this opportunity... Coming home and being able to go back to to my old school and talk to the kids."

Miss O'Donnell would meet the global team at Bellevue Primary School before carrying the torch and leading the run to Tauranga Intermediate School, before speaking there and being awarded the Torch-Bearer Award.

Tauranga Peace Run coordinator Preetidutta said Miss O'Donnell was chosen as an inspiring young woman for the younger generation.

"We really choose people who we feel are transcending their own abilities... and making a step towards peace.

"We think that runners have a lot of great qualities, like determination."

Miss O'Donnell was now living in Auckland and working for Nike, but had previously attended Tauranga Intermediate School and Tauranga Girls' College.

She won the New Zealand 10,000m women's race and came second in the 5km race earlier this year.

She was also first in her age group in the Oceania Half Marathon and fourth overall.
The Peace Run was special to her, being able to take part in an event the late Arthur Lydiard had also carried the torch for.

"That means a lot to me, to take part in something that he was part of back in the day."