To respond to the SOS! Global RescueWalk to rescue Falun Gong practitioners persecuted in China, Colorado practitioners initiated a 35-miles walk from Boulder to Denver from November 17 to 19.
Before the walk, we spent three weeks in careful planning and preparation, including printing large quantities of English flyers, making banners, contacting media and government offices, planning the route, and purchasing video equipment, etc. We also prepared two vans for supporting purposes.
On the morning of November 17, we gathered at a Square in downtown Boulder and held a press conference. At 10am, practitioners demonstrated the five sets of exercises. Reporters from two local newspapers (Colorado Daily and Daily Camera) came to interview us. As soon as the press conference finished, we embarked on the walk.
Nineteen persons took part in the SOS! Walk, including two senior citizens and four young practitioners. In the walk team there was also an American who is not a practitioner. He had heard about our SOS! Global RescueWalk and came to join us to show his support.
Even though it was mid November, it was still quite warm. To finish the planned 20 miles that day, we walked pretty quickly. It was difficult for the elderly practitioners. However they did not lag behind but walked with their whole heart. During the walk, we seldomly talked to each other but constantly sent forth righteous thoughts as if every step we took could eliminate countless evils and leave a bright future for the sentient beings.
During the first day, we passed three cities. At each city we sent forth righteous thoughts in front of the city hall to eliminate the evil. During the trip, Denver TV Channel 7 (ABC) came to interview us.
At the end of the day when we finished the 20 mile walk, we all felt exhausted. Some had sore legs; some had blisters on their feet. Despite all this, we had a group study and shared experiences.
We continued the walk the next morning at 8:30 am. Four young practitioners led the team. Around 2pm it started raining, so we put the flyers under our clothes and continued the walk. We treasured each flyer as they had been printed with the hard earned money of practitioners and it brought Dafa's message and could offer salvation to the people with predestined relationships. Many people saw us walking in the rain and showed their appreciation. The second day of the walk ended at a shopping center in Denver.
On 8:30am of November 19, we started from the shopping center and at 9am reached the destination of our SOS walk -- Denver Municipal Square. There we held a press conference and delivered an information package to the mayor of Denver.
During the three-day walk, we distributed flyers to everyone we met to give him/her the opportunity to know Dafa.