A Profile Of East Riding’s Queen’s Baton Relay Batonbearer Luke Lambert

With one month to go until the Queen’s Baton Relay reaches the East Riding, find out more about one of the East Riding’s Batonbearers prior to the Baton’s visit to Beverley and Market Weighton in July.

Name: Luke Lambert

Born: Beverley

Education: Driffield School 

Fundraising for: Brain Tumour Research

Q: Tell us a bit about the nomination. Where did it come from?

“I have been fundraising for Brain Tumour Research for a number of years, following my Mum’s Grade 4 brain tumour diagnosis in 2016. Unfortunately we lost her in 2019 but during that time she had worked with BTR, climbing a mountain to fundraise for the charity and subsequently attending a meeting at the Houses of Parliament. As a family we developed a relationship with BTR who are doing such incredible things to research this disease and support families affected by it. Brain tumours are indiscriminate; they can affect anyone at any age. What’s more, they kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

“In February I received an email out of the blue from the Commonwealth Games advising that I had been nominated to be a Batonbearer by Brain Tumour Research as a result of my fundraising. I didn’t really expect that I would be selected but I received another email to tell me that I had.”

Q: How did you feel to firstly be nominated and then be selected?

“I must admit I didn’t really take much notice when I received the nomination because I assumed it had been sent widely and did not expect to be selected. It is an honour though, to have been selected to represent the East Riding in this prestigious event and to be a part of the Commonwealth Games which will see the best athletes in the Commonwealth competing in England this summer. I have always been a big fan of the Commonwealth Games and can’t wait for it to start.”

Q: What does East Riding of Yorkshire mean to you and how proud are you to be selected to be one of the area’s representatives in the baton relay?

“I am extremely proud to have been born in Beverley, grown up in the East Riding and to currently live in Beverley. To me, there is nowhere I would rather be. I travel a lot and can confidently say that there isn’t a more friendly region to live in the UK than the East Riding of Yorkshire.

“Beverley is my home at the moment and I consider myself super fortunate to be able to run and cycle safely in some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK within just a few miles of my house, whilst enjoying the benefits which come with living in a lovely, historic town.

“It’s a real honour to be representing the area in the Baton Relay. I will be doing so in memory of my mum who was a huge fan of the East Riding and I’m sure she’ll be smiling down at us on the day.”

Q: How excited are you for the day?

“I’m not really sure what to expect, but I know that some of my family are travelling from the midlands to spectate so we will hopefully get chance to have a nice meal afterwards and a good catch up.”

Q: Tell us a bit about your story.

“I attended Driffield School, was a very sporty child, taking part in swimming, tennis, hockey etc and then went on to do a few ski seasons all around the world before returning to the UK and working for the family business, Land Drainage Consultancy Ltd. around 10 years ago and becoming a director in 2016. I spend most of my week days travelling around the UK to meetings and on a weekend I can be found running, cycling or surfing in the East Riding.

“I struggled a lot after the passing of my late mum, Jenny in 2019 from a Grade 4 brain tumour. I didn’t sleep, and when I did I had unpleasant dreams and so I became a bit of a night owl. I think it’s important to have an escape in life and for me it’s running, so when I couldn’t sleep I would often head out running into the night. I decided that I wanted to do my bit to raise money and awareness for Brain Tumour Research in my mum’s name by entering an endurance event but having already completed an Ironman, felt like it had to be something pretty special. Along with some friends from London I entered the Ultra X Jordan race – a five day, two hundred and fifty kilometre ultramarathon through the Wadi Rum desert in Jordan which we completed October 2021.

“The race was like nothing I have ever done, running through soft sand in temperatures which reached forty-two degrees, sleeping Bedouin tents under the stars and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life (though extremely painful). I struggled with plantar fasciitis after the first day but managed to hobble on and we all successfully completed the race.

“Final fundraising total came to just under £24,000 which was split equally between Brain Tumour Research and Young Minds UK. This was enough to fund five days of research and the BTR lab and 310 helpline support calls with distressed young people and their families.

“I am currently training for a triple ironman triathlon event over a weekend in July where I will be aiming to complete 11.4km of swimming, 540km of cycling and 126km of running. I am once again doing this to support Brain Tumour Research and you can donate to my JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lukes-triple-ironman”

On Wednesday, 13 July 2022, East Riding of Yorkshire will officially welcome the Baton.

During its time in the East Riding, the Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Beverley and Market Weighton. Please note, short term road closures are expected on the day and will be announced in due course.

The route for the Baton’s time in East Riding of Yorkshire is as follows:

BEVERLEY – STARTS at Beverley Minster (*10:17) – Highgate – Wednesday Market – Toll Gavel – Saturday Market – North Bar Within – New Walk – Molescroft Road – ENDS near Longcroft School (*10:50)
MARKET WEIGHTON – STARTS at Beverley Road roundabout (*11:16) – High Street – Holme Road – ENDS near Sandwalk, before A1079 roundabout (*11:30)
* Please note the timings for the start and finish of both routes have altered slightly from the original announcement.