Firefighters launched #OurBlueLight Relay which came through Formby last week
Firefighters from Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service helped to launch the #OurBlueLight Mental Health Relay to raise awareness of how mental health issues affect emergency service staff.
Taking place from Saturday April 29 to Friday September 22 this year, the relay will see staff from emergency services across the UK, including fire and rescue, police, ambulance, prison services and the NHS, carry a baton across north west England.
The baton will travel to different cities throughout its journey and each weekend local emergency services will hand it to another emergency service team for it to be taken to its next location.
On Saturday April 29, the relay launched on Blackpool Promenade at 10.30am when the baton was taken to Southport Community Fire Station on Manchester Road by crew from Southport Lifeboat. It remained at the fire station overnight.
On Sunday, April 30th at 10.30am the baton was placed in a vintage ambulance and travelled in convoy with three fire engines and vehicles from HM Coastguard Southport along Lord Street in Southport through Ainsdale, Formby, Ince Blundell, Thornton and Netherton before arriving at Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service headquarters on Bridle Road in Bootle.
Watch the video of the relay coming through Formby via the Formby bypass here....
Following a short break, the baton was then placed in a vintage Dennis F8 fire engine and the convoy travelled through Kirkdale, Vauxhall and Wapping in Liverpool before arriving at the Pier Head for around 1.30pm.
At the Pier Head, Deputy Chief Fire Officer Phil Garrigan handed the baton over to Merseyside Police at around 1.45pm, after which a procession of emergency service staff carried it to Merseyside Police Headquarters in Canning Place at around 3pm.
The baton then remained at Merseyside Police HQ until today, Sunday, May 7th when it was carried by police staff to Cheshire Police Headquarters in Winsford.
For more information about the #OurBlueLight Mental Health Relay please visit http://ourbluelight.com/mental-health-relay
