Croydon torch relay: The people carrying the Olympic flame
THE Olympic torch relay route is taking in Croydon this afternoon (Monday).
You can follow the action live on our website, getting involved by using the #Croydontorch hashtag on Twitter and sending pictures and comments to joanna.till@northcliffedigital.co.uk
But who is carrying the Olympic flame through Croydon? You can take a look at our list below, but LOCOG has warned that the list is subject to last-minute changes.
You can also read more about torchbearers Dafydd Farr-Jones, Mike Fleet, b> Philip Davis and Dan Blake
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And don't forget, 72-year-old Star Trek legend Sir Patrick Stewart will carry the Olympic torch into St Andrew's School on the 'final frontier' of its journey through Croydon.
However, only seven of the torchbearers are from Croydon.
You can also take a look at our interactive map of the route, read advice for spectators and find out more about Croydon's Big Get-Together planned for this afternoon.
Molly Ackhurst, 20, London
Molly spent two months in South Africa working with girls to establish netball in South African schools. She plans to set up a HIV education program which incorporates sport education in schools around Pietermaritzburg.
Julene Aguirre Bielschowsky, 26, London
Julene was brought up in Mexico and been schooled in a number of locations, including United World College of American West. She now attends the Royal College of Arts and has been a part of Coca-Cola's efforts to bring the Games to life in celebration of youth.
Lisa Bell, 28, Hayes
Lisa took part in a charity cycling event in aid of the BHF charity, a cause close to her heart due to losing a family member to heart disease. She has also run a half marathon in aid of charity with a view to training and getting herself fit enough to enter the 2013 London marathon.
Dan Blake, 35, Hertfordshire
Dan lost his 33-year-old wife last November, and was left with a bereft three year old son. He has set up a charity, Nicki’s Smile, in memory of his beloved wife ring- fenced by Pancreatic Cancer U.K. and has already raised a considerable amount of money towards ensuring earlier diagnosis of this terrible disease.
Kerry Cunningham, 44, Feltham
Kerry partakes in a great number of fundraising events including a London to Brighton bike ride, a Moonwalk Breast Cancer Event and a Crisis Challenge Anneka Event. For the past four years Kerry has donated her Christmases to volunteering for Crisis For Christmas. Kerry also assisted with the big sweep up in Clapham after the recent riots.
Philip Davis, 27, Surrey
Philip suffers from Asperger’s and dyspraxia. He is currently a member of the Men’s National Disabilities squad and has won many titles both regionally and nationally.. He narrowly missed going to Beijing in 2007 for the Special Olympics, but did attend as part of the British National squad in South Africa in 2007, Gran Canaria in 2008 and Berlin in 2009. He has recently returned from competing in Athens for the Special Olympics World Games and is second in the world.
Jon Dean, 54, South Croydon,
Mr Dean was a member of the Sanderstead Millennium Committee which raised money to build a multi-games court and children’s cycle run at the local park and he continues to take part in many fundraising events, especially sponsored activities. He has completed the London Marathon on numerous.
Dafydd Farr-Jones, 29, London
Dafydd is a volunteer fundraiser and campaigner for Beating Bowel Cancer. In 2009, aged just 26, Dafydd was diagnosed with bowel cancer. He contacted Beating Bowel Cancer for support, and despite going through his own difficult journey, he has been a tireless campaigner and fundraiser for the charity ever since.
Mike Fleet, 74, Purley
In 1964 Mr Fleet narrowly missed out on competing in the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Since then he's still maintained a strong interest in athletics as a coach at Croydon Harriers club in South London, for an impressive 53 years. Drawing from his own international experience, Mike trained 400m Olympian Martyn Rooney and has been a huge support for fellow Olympian Donna Fraser. He gives enormous amounts of time and effort helping athletes of all ages from underprivileged backgrounds to those at an elite county level. Mike is a pillar of the community in Croydon and has published his autobiography, I Also Ran by Mike Who, this year detailing his life's encounters in the athletics world.
Julie Galloway, 59, South Croydon
Julie is said to be a wonderful friend and colleague. She has ran the London Marathon twice; in 2003 she supported Leukaemia Research in memory of her father and in 2004 she participated in memory of two colleagues who died tragically within a week of each other. She raised £1,400 for the bereaved families.
Bente Gronning, 42, London
Bente is Norwegian and took part in the torch relay in the Lillehammer winter Olympics in 1994. She will leave London after the Olympics and intends to travel more of the world with her family. She said “I wish to give my kids the opportunity to explore and meet new cultures and people as the world is such a beautiful place!”
Twinelle Hopeson, 20, Croydon
Lloyds TSB selected Olympic hopeful, 20 year old Twinelle Hopeson from Croydon, as an Olympic Torchbearer. Twinelle, who won double gold in the UK School Games, was selected because of her commitment and dedication to athletics and inspiring her peers through helping the Summer Trust programme.
Heping Jiang, 49, Beijing
Mr Jiang currently serves as Sports Channel Controller at China Central Television. Since 1987, he has worked successively at the national broadcaster's operations for domestic news, world news, and English language service, as journalist, producer, and senior manager.
Gareth Jones, 27, London
Has played hockey all his life and used his love of the sport to raise money for Cancer Research and Children in Need. He now coaches new starters and hopes to encourage Team GB Olympic stars of tomorrow.
Yann Laroche, 67, Paris
Yann Laroche, HR and communications director of the EDF Group until 2008, has been a major contributor to EDF's partnership with the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. He initiated the spread of the Olympic values within the company as a tool to building of the EDF Group. He is also an avid runner.
Alain Maquet, 60, Brussels
He is the European president of Ingram Micro, and has shown great social contribution to charities by supporting and emphasising the importance of corporate and private funding and donations to charitable organisations.
Gérard Masson Masson, 64, Jonzac
In 1966, Gérard was the victim of a car accident that left him paraplegic for life. As a former world Paralympic table tennis medallist, he has been involved in paralympic sports for over 30 years. Gerard is the current President of the French Federation of Disability Sport (FFH) and of the French Paralympic Comity (NPC).
Kevin Ruellan, 30, London
Kevin is very passionate about the Olympic movement; he is volunteering for London 2012 and always shows a positive attitude towards the games. Swimming is his passion and he inspires others people to get in the pool and learn to swim as well. He was also involved in the 2000 Sydney Olympics and Paralympics.
Abbe Stapleton, 36, London
Abbe has worked for charity Oasis Trust for 15 years leading homelessness services for young people in London and now heads up a large team developing youth and community services around some of the most disadvantaged areas of England.
Amy Terriere, 35, Croydon
Having played cricket for England U23s, Amy understands the commitment that is needed to achieve personal best. She has selflessly dedicated herself to sport and other people for 10 years at the British Olympic Association.
Ling Tsang, 32, London
Ling volunteers regularly for two charities; Crisis Skylight London and the Environmental Justice Foundation. Crisis Skylight London is an award winning training and employment centre for homeless people in East London. It was set up by the homeless charity Crisis.
John Uwins, 60, South Croydon
John is chairman of West Wickham Football & Cricket Club. The senior club has been providing sport to the community for 100 years. John became involved with the junior club just after it was founded 25 years ago and focused on girl’s football as well as boys. John's role is unpaid and he has a full time job which makes his commitment to the community and the club so impressive.
Krishna Visvanathan, 40, London
Krishna truly believes in sports ability to fundamentally improve people. He uses skills he has learnt through sport to inspire and assist the UK's current generation of technology entrepreneurs to achieve their dreams. In the future he hopes to inspire children through the power of sport.
Skip Webb, 85, Hillingdon
Fred (Skip) Webb has devoted his entire life to Scouting, first as a leader then a district commissioner and now in his later years as a fellow of the Scouts. Every weekend and often during the week Skip will be found out at large helping others in all weather, pitching tents and showing boys and girls how to tie knots.






Comments
by PeterNT
Monday, July 23 2012, 11:32AM
“Cuppa "fell for it" - explain exactly what I have fallen for? Have I been duped into something here? EXPLAIN your attack.”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Monday, July 23 2012, 11:24AM
“Its not helping people into jobs is it, its not helping the economy. For a country that has hardly any money left, where the heck did they find the money for this.”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Monday, July 23 2012, 10:51AM
“And Peter has clearly fell for it. ;)”
by The3rd
Monday, July 23 2012, 10:29AM
“Agreed CuppaTeaPlz. It is 1 big corporate stunt. You just have to look at the locations and jobs of some of the torch bearers. China? Brussells? Jonzag??! How much did these people pay towards the Olympics??!”
by PeterNT
Monday, July 23 2012, 10:20AM
“You cynical people, very sad.
We have a great event happening on our door step and these remarkable people are being given these opportunities which you people come on here and ridicule. Get a life!”
by bagpus123
Monday, July 23 2012, 10:03AM
“Quite agree, all this torch relay stuff started with adolf hitler and the nazi party in the 1936 olympics”
by bagpus123
Monday, July 23 2012, 10:02AM
“Quite agree, all this torch relay stuff started with adolf hitler and the nazi party in the 1936 olympics”
by CuppaTeaPlz
Monday, July 23 2012, 9:30AM
“I totally admire those who are ill or have beaten a serious illness, but I personally think the Olympics is all one big Propaganda stunt, and the people are falling for it.”