Olympic Torch - Bletchley

July 9th, 2012 at 09.01

Meet Your Torchbearers

	Name: Annie Jankowiak Hometown: Buckingham Age: 12 Nomination: We think Annie Jankowiak should be nominated to run with the Olympic torch because she inspires us. We all started secondary school 10 months ago and Annie has made it fun for us all. Despite Annie having a cyst in her knee which affects her hamstring she could run for her life and she does. She takes part in lots of competitions, usually 800m, and does really well. She isn't just brilliant at running she is also good at long jump. She would really love to hold the Olympic torch. She is quite shy and nervous, in front of people she doesn't know, but still really kind and generous to everyone. She is also part of scouts club and does lots to help other people. She is the craziest and funniest person I know but still the loveliest. For charity Annie came into school dressed in a wet suit and wore it all day.
	Name: Colin Bycroft Hometown: Towcester Age: 54 Nomination: I've raised £16500 for Parkinson's UK and Cancer Research UK by organising challenges friends that took part have raised a further £8000.I want to inspire people to push themself beyond what they think they're capable of. It's amazing how good it makes you feel about yourself when you've pushed your own boundaries. Others can see it's a REAL challenge and are all the more likely to support your good cause.I cycled from Land's End - John O'Groats in 2004 for Parkinson's UK and wrote a book about it. A few weeks ago I got a mail from Rick he'd considered doing the same thing for a few years his wife bought him my book - I just got this email:Just thought I'd drop you a line to say 'I made it!' I finished my BIG bike ride from Lands' End to John O'Groats the Friday before last (8th July.) Thank you for the inspiration and of course the sponsorship.- We have one life.
	Name: Fatima Del Angel Palacios Hometown: Cordoba Age: 39 Nomination: A proud Mexican and a loyal promoter of sports among children, youth and adults. Besides climbing mountains, she loves mountain biking and cross-country skiing. Among her great achievements are reaching the top of Mount Damayand, the highest mountain in Middle East, as well as the Turkish volcano Erciyes Dagien. Her most recent achievement has been to conquer the Geographic North Pole, becoming the first Latin American woman who managed to do it skiing. Once there, she raised the Mexican Flag at the rotation axis of the Earth
	Name: Hazel Staten Hometown: Milton Keynes Age: 57 Nomination: Diagnosed at Christmas 2003, Hazel has fought and won the battle against leukaemia with a life saving bone marrow transplant from her brother. She is now well and tirelessly campaigning and supporting charitable work as the Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research head of volunteer fundraisers for Milton Keynes. She is an inspiration not only to me but all the families she supports who have the heartbreaking news that their loved one has been diagnosed with cancer. I do not have enough space to give details of all the wonderful work she has done. They include running in a half marathon, overland travel to China, public speaking and shaking collection buckets.
	Name: Jess Stalley Hometown: Bedford Age: 16 Nomination: We are proud and pleased to nominate our grand daughter Jessica Stalley, Jessica had major spinal surgery during April 2009.and endured two six hour operations. The operation was to straighten her spine by inserting two Titanium rods. During all this time there were no complaints, although there was a traumatic recovery period. She returned to school to complete her Mocks, what an inspiration she proved to be. Jess was and is a swimmer with `The Modernians Swimming Club`, she lost her performance but worked hard to achieve at County level. She volunteered to help with the younger pupils both at school and on Saturdays. Nominated in 2010 for a young volunteer of the year award. She also participates in `The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme` although enduring considerable discomfort when sleeping on hard ground etc. A couple of Facebook comments by her peers, `I like how you are in my form for these last two years and how you've always got a smile on your face`. `I like how we used to go to the same swimming club, how you were so brave when you had your operation, and yet you still amazing at swimming, how you are stunning and really pretty`.
	Name: Jose Hernandez Hometown: Houston, Texas Age: 49 Nomination:  An American engineer and a Mexican descent and former NASA astronaut. His family is from a small town in Michoacán State in Mexico with indigenous roots. As a child José lived half the year in La Piedad and half in the United States, where he used to work alongside his family throughout the fields of California, harvesting crops and moving from one town to another. He didn't learn to speak English until he was 12. After graduating as an engineer, he joined the NASA in 2001, where he was selected by NASA as an astronaut candidate in May 2004. In 2009, José was a member of the crew of Space Shuttle mission STS-128. While in orbit, José became the first person to use Spanish language in space while tweeting.
	Name: Lauren Badger Hometown: High Wycombe Age: 12 Nomination: Fortiter, Fideliter, Feliciter is our school motto and summarises the ethos and sense of community. Lauren is a determined member of our school who has overcome low self esteem and a lack of confidence through her involvement in sport. At primary school she was selected to play in the Tag Rugby team which ignited her enthusiasm to take part in other sporting activities. Since joining our school she has shown herself to be a valuable member of the netball and hockey teams. In lessons, she is always willing to help and support he peers, encouraging them to excel in all that they do. Outside of school, Lauren has made additional friends by joining a local netball club. Sport and PE has positively contributed to Laurens social and physical development. Her journey has inspired other students and sport has changed her life.
	Name: Sarah Lambert Hometown: Lubbock, Texas Age: 18 Nomination: Coca-Cola Scholar NOMINEE has been recognized by two US Presidents for exceptional leadership skills, contagious passion for our environment, and is ideal to carry the Olympic flame. As a Girl Scout she rallied others to make dolls as a Symbol of Friendship for children in Iraq; developed a Volleyball Clinic encouraging girls to stay physically fit through team sports; and recently completed building a carbon-neutral environmental center using compressed earth construction. NOMINEE stated, Children will become better stewards of our earth if they start implementing good eco-habits now. Lorax Lodge is used as an environmental education center to teach green ideals. Through grant writing and meeting with businesses NOMINEE received donations exceeding $200,000 and recruited 2200 volunteers representing sixteen states.
	Name: Sean Vendy Hometown: Milton Keynes Age: 15 Nomination: Lloyds TSB, proud Presenting Partner of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay, has selected Olympic hopeful, 15 year old Sean Vendy from Milton Keynes, as an Olympic Torchbearer. Sean, who won the U15 National Singles crown this year without dropping a set, was selected because of his commitment and dedication to his sport of badminton and inspiring his peers through coaching and promoting badminton in schools in his community. Sean is an athlete on the Lloyds TSB Local Heroes programme. Lloyds TSB Local Heroes, in partnership with SportsAid, supports future stars of Team GB and ParalympicsGB on their journey to London 2012 and beyond.

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