Photo by World Harmony Run
Geoff Green, founder & executive director of Students on Ice and Ray Zahab, founder & expeditions director of impossible2Possible, became recipients of the World Harmony Torch Bearer Award on Tuesday May 25, 2010.
The award which recognizes the significant contributions and service of individuals to their community was presented to the two Chelsea, Quebec residents by the Hon. Peter Milliken, Speaker of the House of Commons in a formal ceremony that took place on Parliament Hill on Tuesday. In attendance were members of the diplomatic community from over 30 countries, Members of Parliament and Senators.
Established in 1987, the World Harmony Run is a global torch relay that works to promote international friendship and understanding. A symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch that is passed from hand to hand as it travels around the world. Since the Run’s inception, it has visited over 140 countries including Canada.
Geoff Green has led over 100 expeditions to the Polar Regions. In 1999 he founded Students on Ice, a pioneering program taking students on educational expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic inspiring youth with a greater respect and understanding of our planet’s ecosystem. He has now taken over 1300 students from over 40 countries to both the Poles. He has received Special Congressional Recognition from the United States Congress for his work with youth and the environment; was named one of Canada’s “Top 40 under 40”; and received the Citation of Merit for outstanding feats of exploration and service by the prestigious Explorers Club in New York City. Geoff and his students carried the World Harmony Torch on their 2005 Arctic Expedition that visited Iceland, Greenland and Baffin Island, and later this year they will carry the torch to Antarctica.
Ray Zahab began to train for ultramarathons in 2004 and soon began winning some of the world’s most difficult and challenging long-distance foot races. In 2007, he and two others ran 7500 km across the Sahara Desert to raise awareness for clean-water initiatives in Africa. In 2008, Ray founded impossible2Possible, which works to educate and inspire youth through adventure and expeditions. Ray’s many adventures and accomplishments include making history in 2009 as the first person to trek to the South Pole solely on foot.
Tuesday’s award ceremony recognized Geoff and Ray’s dedication to youth, education, and world harmony. Other notable recipients of the Torch Bearer’s Award include the late Pope John Paul II, Carl Lewis, Nelson Mandela, and Mikhail Gorbachev.
For more information please contact:
Geoff Green
819-827-3300
Ray Zahab
rzahab@impossible2possible.com
613-868-2888