We’re lighting up the torch relay in Dorset

Selfless volunteer Maria Lochrie, 19, of Westham, has been nominated to carry the torch after devoting much of her spare time to working with disabled children.

She volunteers to take children with disabilities sailing and involves them in other water sport activities.

Her friend Hannah Sterling, who nominated her, said: “Maria is the most giving person I know.

“She devotes her time to working with disabled children both at work and at home where she is a carer for a boy with physical disabilities.”

Miss Lochrie was instrumental in securing funding for specialist beach wheelchairs for the seafront, undertakes charity work in Kenya and encouraging others to take part in water sports locally.

She is unique in that she has also been shortlisted to be a Paralympic Torch-bearer after being nominated by another friend Tina Harvey, for her ‘fantastic attitude towards the disabled’.

Miss Lochrie said: “It will be cool to carry the Olympic Flame, it has been 64 years since the last home Games so it will be something to tell the grandchildren.

“Only 8,000 people are doing it and there are a lot of people in Britain.

“Because a lot of people will know someone carrying the torch it makes it nicer, a lot of my relatives who don’t live near here are coming down for it.”

Although she has now left Weymouth College she continues to support them as a Young Olympic Ambassador.

Her friend Tina Harvey, also from Weymouth, who made the nomination, said: “Maria has a fantastic attitude towards the disabled.

“She is a lovely, caring, funny young lady. She works for a charity called ‘coping with chaos’ which provides breaks for parents in the school holidays.

“For the last five years Maria and her family have provided respite care for my son Mitchel, who is now 11.

“She is a real asset to our community and she’s hoping to get involved with the Paralympics when they come to Weymouth.”

She will carry the flame through Weymouth on July 13.

A NETBALL player has re-ceived the ultimate recognition for her efforts on behalf of her local club after being selected as an Olympic torchbearer.

Kate Sanderson, who lives in Melcombe Bingham, will proudly carry the flame as it passes through Blandford on July 12.

The 23-year-old, who works at East clothes store in Dorchester, was nominated by boyfriend Liam Patton for her tireless fundraising for her Piddle Inn team and her longstanding commitment to the local netball scene.

Kate said: “I’m so excited. I was shocked when I got the call at home and they said ‘your nomination was truly exceptional’, I just kept saying ‘thank you’.”

Kate said she had been playing netball since she was a youngster and had always been keen to do her bit and go above and beyond for her team.

Her fundraising activities for the Piddle Inn team, which she has played for over the last two and a half years, has helped purchase hoodies for the team and contribute to the costs of running it.

As well as playing she is also a trainee umpire.

Kate said: “I just love netball, it’s brilliant and my team are like a second family.

“I just want to give back to sport what I get out of it so if I can raise money that’s great.”

Boyfriend Liam also mentioned Kate’s support of her father John when he nominated her, as she helped him through a battle with cancer, from which he has now recovered.

Kate said: “It’s just amazing – he was given three months and we are now three years down the line and he’s doing really well.”

She said she was honoured to be able to carry the torch and be involved in the world’s biggest sporting event.

Kate said: “I’ve told everybody and they’re all so excited – my gran’s been telling all her bowls buddies!”

In his nomination Liam wrote: “Whilst this is a message of love from me to her, many people recognise that Kate is a people person with great qualities and deserves the chance to carry the torch next summer.”

THE youngest-ever councillor elected in Weymouth and Portland will carry the Olympic Torch through Weymouth.

Ryan Hope, 20, has worked tirelessly for his community in Westham since the age of 14.

He has aimed to improve the quality of life for residents in the area.

Mr Hope, who currently chairs the Westham Community Group, works with all ages to improve the environment by organising litter picks and gardening sessions in waste areas.

He said: “The suspense is mounting now it is getting close.

“I’m so happy to be involved in it. When I saw some of the celebrities carry the torch it really struck me how special it will really be.

“I was surprised to be nominated and by so many people.

“About four members of the public nominated me as well as the council so I was quite pleased. It will be an honour.

“It’s good to be representing a deprived area.

“I think Weymouth is going to be buzzing, hopefully with a real sense of pride.

“After everything the town has been put through for the Olympics hopefully this will be the start of the Olympics benefiting the town.”

Mr Hope, who represents Westham North as a Weymouth and Portland Borough councillor, has also been involved with a number of fundraising activities as well as being an active member of Rotary and chair of the group which plans the Christmas Sparkle event in the town centre.

He will carry the torch on July 12.

A DIETICIAN who works day and night to help others will carry the Olympic torch through Milborne St Andrew on July 12.

Sandra Hood, 54, from Cross-ways near Dorchester said she was ‘completely overwhelmed’ at being nominated to take part in such a special event.

She works tirelessly as a specialist diabetes dietician in the NHS and volunteers her spare time to help people with diabetes in her community.

From writing books to running marathons and tackling a triathlon, Mrs Hood is not only a selfless volunteer but a fighting fit fundraiser.

She said: “I am really excited. I was nominated by a member of Diabetes UK group and I was so completely overwhelmed when I found out.”

Some of the charities that have benefited from her kindness include the West Dorset branch of Diabetes UK and the Vegan Society.

She is the author of the book Feeding Your Vegan Baby With Confidence with all proceeds made donated to the Vegan Society.

She added: “I am a vegan and there are many concerns for parents raising their children as vegans, so I wrote a book to try and help them.”

Marianne Turton, who lives in Weymouth, said she nomin-ated Sandra because she was one of the most caring people she had ever met.

She said: “She works all day helping people with diabetes and then spends her spare time helping endless charities.

“I’ve got diabetes and I can honestly say she deserves to be nominated, she did not ask for it and is a really kind person.”

Ms Hood has also raised hundreds for Compassion in World Farming to help highlight the plight of animals farmed for food.