• ‘Running Out of Time’ relay to visit Olympic Park, Greenway and Royal Victoria Dock to raise awareness of climate action
Newham residents can take centre stage as a relay passing a baton 2,661km from Ben Nevis to Big Ben in the name of climate action passes through the borough.
The Running Out of Time relay, which began in Scotland on 10 June, will enter Newham at the Olympic Park in Stratford on Tuesday July 11 before heading along the Greenway and on to Royal Victoria Dock.
Newham residents can join the fun for free, get some exercise and help raise awareness of the climate emergency by signing up as “Batonbearers” for specific legs of the relay. Details of how to register for the stages in Newham, which include a nature walk around the Olympic Park and a journey along the Greenway, can be found on the Running Out of Time website.
There will also be the chance to watch a Dragon Boat race at Royal Victoria Docks.
Jacob Heitland, Director of Climate Action at Newham Council, said: “Just like our work in declaring a climate emergency and launching the Newham Climate Now campaign, the Running Out of Time relay is helping to raise the profile of climate action and the need to protect the natural world.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming it to the borough on 11 July and hope to see people from across our communities joining in the fun and helping to spread the word about this crucial topic.”
Running Out of Time Co-Founder Dan Thompson said: “Our aim is to highlight the incredible climate action work and environmental preservation taking place across Britain and use the power of sport to literally connect these projects with an unbroken chain of participants.
“Running Out of Time symbolises the very essence of climate action - it’s an extraordinary, bold, ambitious plan that will only succeed because everyone has worked together. I know we can do it!”
Members of the public can register for three stages of the relay for £15, but Newham residents and students can claim free places using the code NEWHAMGUEST.
Newham declared a climate emergency in 2019 and plans to make the borough carbon neutral by 2030 and carbon zero by 2050. Details of existing and future measures to help green the borough can be found on Newham Climate Now.
Running Out of Time is the biggest sporting celebration of climate action and nature ever attempted across Britain, with thousands of runners, walkers, wheelers and cyclists relaying the baton and inspiring the nation to take collective action to reach net zero.