Valley students honor Martin Luther King, Jr. with torch run

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - Before the sun even rose, a group of 14 students from Franklin Police and Fire High School hit the pavement with the flame of a torch lighting their path.

"We start here, we go down 17th Avenue, then we go across, we can see the capitol," Larry Weig.

Now retired coach, Larry Weig led the way on a 5K through downtown Phoenix honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Valerie came to my principal and said, 'We are looking to do a torch run and we need some runners,' and I had a running club at the time," Weig said. "He came to me and I said sure."

"Hopefully, these young runners will be those folks that we will see in 20 or 30 years that will truly make a difference and continue to change the world," Valerie Churchwell said.

The purpose of the run is just that, to create change to spread a message of hope.

"It's not lost, it's not lost, I think we have some differences in the world today that we have to acknowledge, but I think education is key and not losing sight of the past until we secure our future," Churchwell said.

The young runners are eager to move, eager to make a difference, and eager to be the light of tomorrow.

"I want to carry on what he like tried to finish, so you know it's still an issue now, so I want to carry it on," Kevin Brez said.

The run ended at the Phoenix Convention Center, where the students kicked off the annual MLK Awards Breakfast.