A NEW year's honour of a different kind has been bestowed on an officer who works for Whitefield Ambulance Station.
For Andy Cooper (24), an employee in the human resources department, has been
chosen to take part in the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay -- the Commonwealth Games' equivalent of the Olympic Torch Relay.
Containing a message from the Queen, the baton symbolises the calling of the athletes to compete at the games.
The baton will depart from Buckingham Palace in March for a 20,000 mile journey around the world. After a 87-day journey through 21 Commonwealth countries and Baton will return to the UK on June 26 for the start of a 50-day journey around the British Isles before the Games.
Mr Cooper is one of six people nominated by the Greater Manchester Ambulance Service (GMAS) to join other 2,500 other runners who will carry the baton around the UK.
Mr Cooper, who lives in Preston, said: "It's something I am very much looking forward to taking part in.
"I will take part in the relay when it reaches Derby on June 30 where I will run 500m."
He added: "I'm not really a runner, but I will be doing some training by running before hand for the event."
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