Last updated at 16:01, Wednesday, 21 March 2012

More than 50 north and west Cumbrians will have the honour of carrying the Olympic flame when it passes through the county this summer.

Suzanne Day

All individually nominated by people in their local communities, the torchbearers will play a pivotal role in Great Britain’s build up to the Games.

Aged between 12 and 79, these select Cumbrians range from young sports stars to charity fundraisers, from dedicated medics to community champions.

They include inspirational 18-year-old Emma Goodchild, of Brampton. Despite suffering from cerebral palsy, the determined young woman has never let it get in the way of her passion for sport. She recently achieved a wild card place in the Boccia England National Championships, after being spotted at the regional championships last year.

She now travels to Newcastle every Monday to train at the top level, as well as being part of the boccia club at William Howard School, where she is a pupil.

Emma is also an up and coming star in the club throw, winning a gold medal at the North West Regional Junior Athletic Championships last year, and is aiming for the 2016 Paralympics – although she can already throw the qualifying standard.

After finding out she had been chosen as a torchbearer she said: “I’m really excited and hope to be an inspiration to other people with disabilities.”

Emma was nominated by her friend and fellow Paralympic hopeful Anna Nicholson, 16, who coincidentally was also put forward to be a torchbearer. It means the two disabled sports stars will both carry the flame when it travels through Carlisle on June 20 and 21.

But it is not just up and coming athletes who will carry the Olympic torch. Those who have battled illness, served their community and helped charities are also included.

For example west Cumbrian GP Tim Sowton, of Cockermouth, has been chosen to carry the flame through his home town. The 51-year-old, who practises in Seascale, was on the front line during the west Cumbrian shootings, which killed and injured several of his patients.

On that tragic day in 2010 he had gone to the surgery to catch up with paperwork but instead found himself tending victims in the road outside, with the killer still loose.

Tim’s own personal achievements also made him stand out to selectors. At the age of 23 he was part way through medical school when he developed a rare cancer. He needed six operations and three years out of university to recover. But he went back, completed his studies, and went on to run the London marathon six times.

As a qualified doctor, he also worked to rebuild healthcare in war torn areas of Afghanistan and Cambodia.

Also carrying the torch will be charity leader Sheila Gregory, who has raised nearly £500,000 in a year to build a new respite centre for disabled children in Carlisle.

The 54-year-old chief executive of Carlisle Mencap said she hoped that being involved in the torch ceremony would give some publicity to the Grace Little Centre, which just needs a final chunk of funding for equipment before it can finally open.

“When I found out I’d been chosen I was a bit gobsmacked really. I’m not the kind of person you’d usually associate with athletics – I’ll be 55 on Friday!

“But it will be an honour to be there on behalf of the charity. It’s all about what we do for the kids and hopefully we’ll be able to get some of them along to see me,” said Sheila, who will participate in the Aspatria leg.

Another charity representative bearing the torch is Suzanne Day, of Whitehaven. As Mind in West Cumbria’s volunteer coordinator, the 27-year-old is on a mission to tackle the stigma that still surrounds mental illness and help those with problems to beat them.

Suzanne initially became involved with the charity in November 2009, offering support to those affected by the devastating floods. She continued to volunteer until she was taken on by the charity a year later.

She has also developed a campaign called Get Talking, which aims to raise awareness of mental health and reduce discrimination.

Suzanne also works for Whitehaven Community Trust, an organisation that offers supported housing to young people who have become homeless.

She said that being part of the Olympic celebrations will mean a great deal, especially after losing her mum late last year.

“I feel so pleased and proud to be carrying the torch in Cumbria. This will be a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.

“I lost my mum suddenly in October, after been nominated, and at times it has been hard to keep a positive outlook. But I am carrying the torch for people who have gone through, or are going a period of mental ill health.

“It may not seem like it at the time, but with the right support we can bounce back from most things,” she explained.

Other high profile characters involved in the ceremony include Mike Park, the leader of Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team. The 46-year-old, who lives at Pardshaw, near Cockermouth, will carry the torch through the town.

The volunteer lifesaver, who works at Sellafield, was recently awarded the MBE after devoting almost 30 years to the team and playing a vital role during the Cockermouth floods, carrying victims to safety.

Although delighted to have been chosen, the dad-of-two said it was really an honour for the whole of the team. “It came out of the blue but I was chuffed that somebody from the team has put me forward, and that I will be carrying it in Cockermouth. I am honoured and hope that being involved will continue to raise the profile of the team, the town and the local community,” he said.

Mike was also pleased to see his friend Barry Johnson on the list. Despite having turned 71, the dedicated personal trainer, of Eaglesfield, near Cockermouth, continues to push himself to the limits, celebrating his 70th birthday by running, cycling and swimming through the Lake District – 180 miles in less than 24 hours – and raising thousands of pounds.

Another veteran Cumbrian athlete taking part in the Olympic relay is legendary fellrunner Joss Naylor, of Wasdale. Now 76, he will be running with Barry at the Flimby leg of the relay.

Younger athletes taking part include Carlisle’s Matthew Grieve. The 18-year-old water polo star has represented Great Britain, travelling all over the country to compete.

Several Cumbrian community champions will also take part, including Liz Auld, the recently retired parish clerk who served Dalston for 17 years.

Full list of north Cumbrians taking part:

APPLEBY - June 20

Duncan Vaughan, 39, Shap

ASPATRIA - June 21

James Boothroyd, 16, from Carlisle

Mark Rutherford, 35, Carlisle

Sheila Gregory, 54, Carlisle

AMBLESIDE - June 21

Liam Jordan, 14, Millom

Tom Wright, 15, Egremont

CARLISLE - June 20 and 21

Emma Goodchild, 18, Brampton

Anna Nicholson, 16, Brampton

Henry Reading, 12, Wigton

Jordan Little, 20, Carlisle

Matthew Grieve, 18, Carlisle

Peter Fisher, 65, Carlisle

Stuart Gorman, 23, Carlisle

Elizabeth Auld, 65, Carlisle

Erin Drinkald, 12, Carlisle

Suzanne Day, 27, Whitehaven

COCKERMOUTH - June 21

Timothy Sowton, 51, Cockermouth

Inge Sullivan, 53, Cockermouth

Mike Park, 46, Cockermouth

Toni Chaplin-armer, 47, Appleby

Tracey Harrison, 46, Cockermouth

FLIMBY - June 21

Barry Johnson, 71, Cockermouth

Darren Blanks, 25, Egremont

Joss Naylor, 76, Seascale

Julie Dodd, 43, Carlisle

KENDAL - June 22

Angela Kelly, 51, Carlisle

John Roelich, 63, Carlisle

Kathryn Routledge, 17, Carlisle

Katy Marsland, 19, Keswick

Patricia Molyneux, 65, Cleator

KESWICK - June 21

Andrew Brodie, 41, Kendal

Milly Pyne, 13, Ulverston

Stuart Robinson, 49, Appleby

MARYPORT - June 21

Angela Brand-Barker, 50, Cockermouth

Karen Greene, 47, St Bees

Kath Johnston, 60, Penrith

Tom Braithwaite, 15, Wigton

PENRITH - June 21

Docker Reid, 42, Penrith

Julie Labbett, 42, Penrith

Sarah Bisson, 35, Penrith

WHITEHAVEN - June 21

Gary Mckee, 42, Cleator Moor

Jocelyn Lace, 60, Whitehaven

Shameem Arnold, 34, Egremont

WIGTON - June 21

Bryan Clayton, 79, Carlisle

Lauren Hardon, 15, Carlisle

Lozzy Armstrong, 17, Wigton

WORKINGTON - June 21

Andrew Robinson, 42, Cockermouth

Cath Pearce, 55, Penrith

Christopher Casson, 37, Workington

Ian Moseley, 51, Cumbria

John Merritt, 85, Keswick

Ken Walker, 55, Frizington

First published at 11:27, Wednesday, 21 March 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk