Shropshire teenage carer to carry Olympic Torch
A 17-year-old Shropshire carer is one of 8,000 inspirational people who will carry the Olympic Flame as it journeys across the UK next year.
Sarah Thomas, from Shrewsbury, cares for both her parents but primarily looks after her mum who has suffered from multiple sclerosis for 30 years, her father was forced to retire three years ago, due to arthritis fibromyalgia.
Last year, Sarah, was one of several young carers who called for better support for young carers at a meeting with Prime Minister. During the meeting she told David Cameron she feared how her parents would cope if she decided to go to university.
Flame to pass through Shropshire twice
The Olympic Flame is to pass through Shropshire twice as it visits more than 1,000 villages, towns and cities on its way to the London 2012 opening ceremony.
Residents in south Shropshire will get the first glimpse of the torch when it passes through Ludlow, Cleehill, Cleobury Mortimer and Far Forest on Thursday, May 24 2012.
On Wednesday 30 May, the torch will enter north west Shropshire and pass through Oswestry, Pant, Shrewsbury, Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall, Broseley, Ironbridge, Telford and Newport before heading on to Stoke-on-Trent.
Some of the torch’s route through Shropshire will be by convoy, other parts of it will see the flame carried by specially selected torchbearers including Darah. A total of 14 Shropshire communities will welcome the Olympic Flame.
Special Welcome in Much Wenlock
There will be a special welcome in the town of Much Wenlock, where Doctor William Penny Brookes founded the Wenlock Olympian Games in 1850 and inspired the revival of the modern Olympics in Athens in 1896. The annual Games continue to be held in the town to this day. The link has been recognised by the London 2012 Olympics as the Games’ official mascot is called Wenlock.
