WEYMOUTH lifeguard Maria Lochrie is among the torchbearers who will be carrying the Olympic Flame this summer.

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

“When not at college studying sport, 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.”

Maria was instrumental in securing funding for specialist beach wheelchairs for the seafront and also volunteers as a Young Ambassador for Weymouth College, in addition to undertaking 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 Torchbearer after being nominated by another friend Tina Harvey, for her ‘fantastic attitude towards the disabled.’ Maria, 19, of Westham, said: “It will be cool to carry the Olympic Flame.

“It’s 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.”

Inspirations

THE chairman of the Dorset 2012 board said the arrival of the Olympic Flame in Dorset will be a truly special and historic occasion.

Coun Angus Campbell, above, who is also leader of Dorset County Council, said: “We welcome today’s announcements of exactly when and where local people will be able to watch it make its journey through the area.

“We are encouraging our local communities to come out and welcome the Olympic Flame to Dorset, so that they can be part of this unique experience and show their support for the Inspirational Torchbearers that have been selected to carry it.”

LOCOG chairman Seb Coe added: “Today we bring the Olympic Torch Relay to life.

“The flame’s journey around the UK will bring the excitement of the Games to our streets. Now the people know the route and the torchbearers, they can start planning how they might celebrate and make it Dorset’s moment to shine.”