You can now sign up for the world’s longest baton relay ever attempted

Watermead Country Park is hosting the baton handover on Tuesday 4th October.

The Running Out of Time relay will see thousands of runners pass a baton 7,767km through 18 countries containing a climate message from young people to world leaders at the United Nations COP27 Climate Change Conference.

The relay starts in Glasgow – the venue of last year’s COP26 conference – on Friday 30 September on its 726-leg journey to the COP27 conference in Sharm-el-Sheik, Egypt on 6 November. 

Watermead Country Park is hosting the baton handover between stages 77 and 78 at 8.30 am on Tuesday 4 October.

Councillor Blake Pain, the cabinet member for the environment and the green agenda, said: "We’re a green council and taking action on climate change is one of our top priorities. That’s why cutting carbon and boosting biodiversity is being built into our services - and we’re making good progress.

"We are developing a countywide net zero strategy and action plan which looks at the next step. Tackling climate change across the whole of Leicestershire is too big a job for any one organisation. And importantly, it sets out how we can work together to get to net zero by 2045.

"I’m proud and honoured to be able to take part in this historic international relay which shines the spotlight on the climate crisis and the need to take action."

Runner Andrew Thomas will hand over the baton to Blake Pain, who will run part of the next leg of the relay to highlight the council’s commitment to the environment and net zero carbon ambitions.

More runners are now being called upon to sign up to support Blake and Andrew during their relay stages. Volunteers can run the whole stage (8-12km), or as much or little as they wish to.

To sign up for stage 77Opens another website in new window  – McDonald’s in Epinal Way Loughborough to John Merrick’s Lake at Watermead Country Park

To sign up for stage 78Opens another website in new window  – Watermead Country Park to the bridge in Abbey Park, joining Cllr Blake Pain.