Edison Elementary School students will officially open this year’s Martin Luther King Jr. Annual Awards Breakfast with a 3.5 mile “Flame of Hope” Torch Run through downtown Phoenix. Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton will kick off the Torch Run at Phoenix City Hall at 6 a.m., Friday, January 13.
Phoenix Police officers will join the students from City Hall to the State Capitol, all the way to Sheraton Hotel where they will present the torch and open the annual Breakfast event at 7 a.m.
This will be the sixth year that students from Edison Elementary School have taken part in the Martin Luther King Jr. Torch Run. “The students from Edison Elementary School are very proud to be participating in the run again this year. Being from a very diverse community, this is an opportunity to expose them to the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Learning about him and his commitment to help all people, regardless of race, has been an inspiration to them,” said Edison Elementary School Coach, Larry Weig.
“Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is proud to carry on the tradition of this torch run as a sponsor. We are even more pleased that 4th – 6th grade students from one of our airport neighborhoods will once again be participating as our ‘featured runners’ for this event,” said Valerie Churchwell, Community Outreach Manager for the Phoenix Aviation Department.
The students will also lead the City of Phoenix annual Martin Luther King Day march on January 16. The three mile march will depart from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church at 9 a.m., ending at Margaret T. Hance Park located at Third and Moreland streets in Phoenix.