7 News Belize

An Epic Walk For a Profound Problem
posted (February 13, 2013)
From the Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon - we all know those rivers as the northern and Southern boundaries of Belize - and while they roll off the tongue easily enough, imagine walking from one to the other - that's quote a different proposition!

But that's just what a small but committed group of individuals chose to do in a 300 mile Walk For Peace. Formally, it's called the "Bishop's March for Peace: From the Rio Hondo to the Sarstoon".

It was organized by the Saint Martin De Porres Parish to inspire a call to action against crime and focus on positivity in the different communities they walked through.

The participants fell just 20 miles short of their 300 mile goal, but today they came home to a well-deserved welcome from the students of the Saint Martin De Porres Primary School, and 7News was there.

Here's what the participants told us:

Tanya Usher - Coordinator, Walk For Peace
"We were so happy. Every time we got tired, and thought about stopping, we would see a bunch of kids, or some people waiting up in the distance. And we knew that we had to go one more mile, and walk a mile with them. People came out; almost all the primary catholic schools participated. We had schools even on the weekends; we had teachers come out when they didn't have to. We had people who just walked a few miles with us, and that's what we wanted. We don't think that walking can stop crime, and we don't think walking can bring peace, but at least it will get people thinking about it, and looking for their own ways to stop crime and bring peace."

Father Matthew Ruhl - Participant, Walk For Peace
"I just want people to be aware that peace is possible in this country. I want people to start thinking about peace, talking about it, and acting for it."

Reporter
"Father, were you injured during your walk? Why did you have to go by vehicle in the end? What happened?"

Father Matthew Ruhl
"About 150 miles, I got down to Independence, and a doctor looked at my feet and told me that I had huge infections underneath my calluses and underneath my toes. So, she took several layers of skin off, and 2 toenails. I let others finish the walk."

Reporter
"What was your experience like meeting people in the different districts."

Father Matthew Ruhl
"It was just amazing. I am here to tell you - I want you know that Belize is filled with beautiful people. Belize is more beautiful than a lot of Belizeans realize."

Reporter
"How is it to have all the students out here from Saint Martin De Porres cheering your name?"

Father Matthew Ruhl
"I love it. They gladden my heart. I love my Saint Martin De Porres people, love me."

Tanya Usher
"It was a great success; I'm hoping that it is something that we can try again next year. It wasn't easy; all of us have sores, blisters, and swollen something, but it achieved what we wanted, which was to get people talking about it, and to realize that it was a sacrifice. And we hope that people will make their own sacrifices."

The delegation started at the Chetumal Border and traveled the entire length of the country, but due to a few health issues and other difficulties, they came just shy of arriving at the Sarstoon.

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