Climate Relay Unites Thousands During Election Campaign

BEN NEVIS - LONDON, UK. 20th June, 2024 - The third annual Running Out of Time Climate Relay launched on 6 June at the foot of Ben Nevis and is making a people-powered 2,436km journey via inspiring communities nationwide to Big Ben in Parliament Square, London on Election Day, 4 July.

The Relay is the country’s only sporting event for climate and this year’s is the biggest yet and coincides with the general election campaign. Its route comprises 210 stages and visits over 80 different climate and nature projects, sporting organisations and venues, as well as schools, events and iconic locations, combining the love of sport with a huge celebration of public campaigning and action for climate and nature.
 
The message in the relay baton calls for politicians of all parties to cut emissions; restore nature; and help those most affected by climate change. Positive, people-powered, and non-party-political, the Relay is an inclusive celebration of the best of campaigns and projects across major sports, communities, councils, business, the voluntary sector, and education with visits to 50 schools representing 20,000 students and delivering a unique climate assembly created by the Relay's educational partners.

Running Out of Time Co-Founders Dan Thompson and Jamie Hay say “This year’s Relay is set to be the largest yet with tens of thousands of people involved in the Relay stages and the places we visit. It is magical, inspirational and epic and we’d love people to join us as runners, cyclists or supporters. 

The Running Out of Time Relay is positive, people-powered and non-party-political. It’s great that this year it coincides with the election campaign as we celebrate how people across different sports and communities are united in their concern about climate and nature and share stories about the action they are taking where they live. Working together we can highlight the benefits of strong action on climate and nature restoration - a strong economy with sustainable, affordable energy; clean air and clean water; food for all; and a natural world that can be enjoyed by future generations.”

The Relay joins the 'Climate Stripes' at Lords cricket ground for the first time on 21 June. The Climate Stripes, created by the University of Reading to show the progressive heating of the planet, will be on display as the relay takes in the home dressing room, the Long Room, Lords Pavilion and the famous Lords media centre. This follows the projection of the stripes onto an iconic London building on the evening of 20 June.

The Relay continues on to locations across England and Wales celebrating climate action by sports organisations, universities, sustainable fashion groups, Surfers Against Sewage, and much more. 

 

The Relay Finale day is in London on 4 July with massive day of activity starting at Wembley stadium with the Football Association, continuing on to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; the Line from the Orbit to Cody Dock;  UEL Docks campus; paddle and wakeboarding with Wake Up Docklands; TfL cable car from the Docks to the O2; Greenwich Observatory and Tower Bridge. The final leg will see runners arrive at Parliament Square in front of Big Ben - for a group photo at exactly 20.30 to symbolise the goal of cutting emissions and reaching net zero by 2030. Organisers encourage individuals and families to join in wherever they are by enjoying a run, cycle or walk to their local clock and sharing their 20.30 image online.

The general public can register to take part and pass the baton via www.running-out-of-time.com. 

Anyone over the age of 18 is welcome to sign-up to the relay route. They will need to be able maintain an average pace of 6 mins 15 secs per kilometre /  10 minutes per mile for the duration of a stage.