FGS Auckland Unite with School Run Together and Love the Earth

The BLIA World Headquarters Charitable Project' VEGRUN (Veg-revival Virtual Community Run)' has spread across NZ schools. Under the motto 'You Run, I Plant Trees', the North Island Chapter pledged to donate a tree for every 10km run to support New Zealand's tree planting project.

On August 25, 2023, over a thousand teachers and students from Ormiston Primary School ran together, covering 1000km, achieving the goal of planting 100 trees. Mr Heath McNeil, the Leader of learning, was inspired by this achievement and announced a donation of an additional 100 trees in the school's name to support VEGRUN.

FGS NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin, Minister-in-charge of FGS Auckland, Venerable Rulian, Venerable NengChien, President of BLIA North Island Chapter, Ms Yulin Ku, Vice President, Nick Yoong, President of BLIA Subchapter 4, Annie Chang and committees visited the school to show their support. BLIA members cheered on participants along the route and provided apples at the finishing point to help replenish their energy.

Venerable NengChien highlighted the significance of this charity run and emphasized the Environmental and Spiritual Preservation philosophy of the Founder of FGS Buddhist Order, Venerable Master Hsing Yun. She encouraged students to "Do Good Deeds" by running to plant trees, "Say Good Words" by motivating their friends during the run, and to "Think Good Thoughts" as they ran with the spirit of environmental conservation.

To conclude, Abbess Manshin presented golden balls imprinted with Venerable Master Hsing Yun's calligraphy, 'Never Forget Your Initial Aspiration,' to Mr McNeil and the top 5 students. Abbess encouraged everyone to incorporate the principles of 'Three Goodness and Four Givings' into their daily lives.

Mr McNeil expressed profound gratitude to FGSNZ Auckland and BLIA North Island Chapter for the invitation to attend. He anticipated that VEGRUN would become a regular school activity, allowing students to put the 3G4G concept into practice by planting trees and caring for the environment through physical actions.

Mrs. Fran Mes, Associate Leader of Learning, shared that the students were excited about the run and tree planting. They looked forward to participating in tree-planting activities with BLIA members to further develop their Earth-loving spirit, expressing their joy and anticipation.