| International Vegetarian Union (IVU) | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
Vegetarian World Forum 540 KILOMETRE FASTING MARCH ENDURANCE
ON August 1st, eleven members of the Swedish Vegetarian Society set out from Goteborg to cover the 300 miles to Stockholm in ten days. This in ordinary circumstances is a good rate of progress but these stalwarts aimed at completing the journey without partaking of any bodily refreshment apart from spring water. Their leader was Dr. Lennart Edrén and their purpose was to prove that fasting can improve health without undermining stamina. The experiment attracted very considerable interest in Sweden where some physicians condemned the adventure at the outset by dismissing it as "insanity." The Press of other countries also reported on the progress of the walkers although some of their remarks were more imaginative than accurate. On the 10th day according to schedule, ten of the eleven participants reached Stockholm and were cheered by great masses of the people. They were immediately examined by physicians of Stockholm's largest hospital who expressed their amazement at the party's good state of health. The names of the participants together with details showing loss of weight over the ten-day period is as follows:- We congratulate these men of stout hearts and healthy bodies and thank
them for the favourable publicity that they have gained for the Vegetarian
Movement. It may well be that the competitive spirit which seems to be
inherent in human nature will urge the Vegetarians of some other nation
to attempt an even more ambitious feat of endurance.
|
|
