A MID Wales charity worker has received the honour of being selected to carry the Olympic torch ahead of London 2012.
Action for Children worker Nicci Shrimpton, 45, is set to become one of 8,000 runners who will light the way to the world's greatest sporting event.
The Community Support Services Coordinator, from Caersws, was selected to be a torchbearer by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) after being nominated by her manager, Eve Chinnery.
Nicci was nominated to carry the torch for her work with disabled children as well as many extra fundraising efforts for a variety of charities and initiatives connected to her work at the project.
The keen runner has raised hundreds of pounds for charity by completing the Cardiff Half Marathon and is set to compete in this year’s London Marathon.
Nicci said she is looking forward to her Olympic role, which will see her carry the torch along a part of its route in the 70-day Olympic Torchbearer Relay around the UK, before it arrives in London for the start of the summer Games in July.
She said: “I don't know where I will be carrying it yet, but I have been told I will have it on May 27 somewhere between Swansea and Aberystwyth. It could be anywhere on the route, but I hope it's close to home!”
Nicci also confessed that she had been bowled over to find out she had been selected.
She said: “I was gobsmacked but absolutely delighted to be chosen as I thought the chances of actually being picked were so minimal. I couldn't be more pleased.”
Eve Chinnery, Action for Children service manager, said: “Nicci thoroughly deserves to take part in this historic sporting event.
“She is a hard working and dedicated member of the team at Powys Community Support Service and also dedicates her spare time to the disabled children outside of working hours, as well as studying for an Open University degree and bringing up two teenage sons.”
People can visit Nicci’s fundraising page at http://www.justgiving.com/Nicci-Shrimpton or her blog at http://www.realbuzz.com/blogs/u/niccishrimpton/niccis-belated-40th-birthday-challenge/