Sir Lenny Henry to take part in Queen's Baton Relay ahead of the Commonwealth Games

Comic Relief founder Sir Lenny Henry will carry the prestigious Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton as part of its 90,000-mile journey around all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth. 

Sir Lenny will run with the Baton through Birmingham, the host city of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games this summer. His journey through Victoria Square on the evening of July 27 toward the end of its 294-day journey on the eve of the highly anticipated Commonwealth Games kicking off. The Queen’s Baton Relay will come to a close the following day at the Opening Ceremony.  

Sir Lenny was invited to be a Batonbearer to celebrate Sport Relief being an official charity partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Comic Relief launched the first ever Sport Relief 20 years ago and thanks to the great British public, has raised an incredible £419million so far to help change lives in the UK and around the world. 

Sir Lenny said: “The chance to carry (via jogging and walking!) the Queen’s Baton on the final leg of its journey fills me with massive pride, especially when I think of how far it’s travelled over the past nine months.” 

He added: “It has crossed land, sea and air to cover every corner of the Commonwealth, including my parent’s home of Jamaica, and all the way to Birmingham City Centre (just down the road from Dudley where I got my first humungous break); and carried all the way by inspirational individuals whose stories have blown me away. Hats off to everyone who has taken part!” 

Sport Relief is an official charity partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, alongside United By 2022 and the Commonwealth Sport Foundation, and hopes to raise money this summer to help change lives for the better. Money raised will go towards important causes including tackling inequality, improving mental health and helping young people survive and thrive. 

The Prince of Wales will deliver a speech during the Opening Ceremony, taking place at the newly redeveloped Alexander Stadium in Birmingham, during which His Royal Highness will read The Queen’s message for the Commonwealth Games. The Queen’s message was placed into the Commonwealth Games Baton by her Majesty on October 7 2021 at Buckingham Palace. The Games will be the biggest sporting event to be held in the UK since London 2012, and will see athletes from across the Commonwealth compete in 19 sports and eight Para-sports.  

To find out how you can get involved in Sport Relief this summer, visit: comicrelief.com/sportrelief