CARLISLE will officially welcome the baton of the Queen’s Baton Relay in the run up to the Commonwealth Games.

Birmingham is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay, a journey which celebrated communities across the Commonwealth during the build-up to the games.

The relay is set to travel the length of England, culminating at the opening ceremony in Birmingham on July 28.

The baton will travel from July 4 on a 25-day-tour of England’s regions, and will be in Carlisle on July 16.

A busy schedule of activities and events are planned for the relay, with opportunities to highlight untold stories from baton bearers who are striving for change in their community.

The schedule for Carlisle includes a route that will take in landmarks like the cathedral.

Its route will start on English Street, moving towards Greenmarket, the cathedral grounds, Paternoster Row, and onto Castle Street into Tullie House gardens where it will be welcomed as part of this year’s Unity Festival.

The baton arrives at 8:30am and the relay starts at 9am.

It will be at Tullie House by 9:30am and is due to leave Carlisle at 9:45am.

One of the confirmed community baton bearers for the city council organised event in Carlisle is Mina Banisaeid, who moved here from Iran and has used her time and positive outlook to inspire and educate others.

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She is the chair of Carlisle city of sanctuary supporting refugees and asylum seekers in our city, organising and attending events and translating.

She is an activist and works as an advocate for Pride in North Cumbria, a charity for LGBTQ+ young people.

Travelling via land, air and sea, over 180 communities in England will experience the baton on a route spanning 2,500 miles.

From energetic cities and historic market towns to rolling countryside and rugged coastline, the baton will head as far south as Cornwall and as far north as Northumberland.

The baton has been a tradition since the 1958 games in Cardiff, but has changed over the years, with this year’s baton being created in a West Midlands collaboration that fused art, tech and science.

Made from copper, aluminium and steel, the baton also features a platinum strand in homage to the Queen’s jubilee, and is equipped with a 360-degree camera, heart rate monitor, atmospheric sensors and LED lights.

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