Walking with Love and Hope: North Carolina VEGRUN Concludes Successfully
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
[Reported by Yuchuan and Cixuan Hu, North Carolina, USA] The BLIA North Carolina Chapter VEGRUN concluded with a closing celebration held on June 6, 2026 at Fred G. Bond Metro Park in Cary, North Carolina, bringing this year’s event to a successful close. Since its launch on April 23, 2026,the event has attracted enthusiastic participation from Fo Guang members and local residents, accumulating more than 4,000 kilometers of walking mileage.
Upholding the charitable spirit of donating one dollar for every five kilometers completed, the BLIA North Carolina Chapter raised more than US$800 to support charitable causes through collective action. Nearly 150 Fo Guang members and community residents attended the closing event.
Combining walking, charity, environmental awareness, and Buddhist education, the event featured interactive activity stations designed to promote the Three Acts of Goodness—doing good deeds, speaking good words, and thinking good thoughts. Participants were encouraged to protect life through vegetarianism and care for the planet through concrete actions.
Gee Chia, President of the BLIA North Carolina Chapter, said that VEGRUN is a global charitable initiative promoted by Buddha’s Light International Association (BLIA) to encourage physical and mental well-being, cultivate compassion, and protect the environment through vegetarian practices. She also expressed gratitude to sponsors, Friends of Fo Guang members, BLIA members, and all participants for their support in making the event a meaningful celebration of health, environmental sustainability, and public service.
Venerable Miao Jou, Superintendent of Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple, North Carolina, shared that all things arise through causes and conditions, and that cherishing the earth’s resources is a way of cultivating compassion and gratitude. She noted that Fo Guang Shan Founding Master Venerable Master Hsing Yun advocated the spirit of the Three Acts of Goodness, and that vegetarianism and environmental protection are practical ways to put these teachings into action.
The event featured both a two-kilometer leisure route and a five-kilometer lakeside route. Participants enjoyed walking along the scenic trails surrounding the lake while appreciating the beauty of nature. Following the walk, organizers prepared a variety of vegetarian foods, including grilled skewers, stir-fried noodles, Vietnamese sandwiches, sweet potatoes, corn, and watermelon. The program also included sing-along performances by the Fo Guang Choir, prize drawings, and recognition of participants who had joined the event for three consecutive years, creating a warm and festive atmosphere.
Volunteer Su Wan-Yi, who participated in VEGRUN for the third time, said she looks forward to the event every year. She believes that promoting vegetarianism not only helps reduce carbon emissions but also raises environmental awareness. Seeing participation increase year after year has strengthened her belief that society is placing greater importance on environmental protection and charitable service.
Wu Cho-Yao, attending a Fo Guang Shan event for the first time, shared that walking in nature allowed her to experience the warmth and sense of community within Fo Guang Shan and that she hopes to bring the positive energy from the event into her daily life. Another first-time participant, Ju Hui-Chin, noted that the event successfully combined charity, walking, and community engagement. Through interactive activities, participants became better acquainted with one another, strengthening community bonds while introducing more people to Fo Guang Shan and its values.
