NATASHA Jones who beat leukaemia and now runs a charity to support other sufferers, has been chosen to be an official Olympic torch bearer.

The 32-year-old mum who lives with her husband and three sons at Stapehill near Wimborne, was diagnosed with leukaemia just three weeks after giving birth to her second son in 2005.

She was immediately put into isolation from her newborn son as doctors battled to save her life.

But Natasha was so determined to turn her experience into something positive, that she up the charity Leukaemia Education and Fundraising (Leaf) from her hospital bed in February 2006.

Following extensive treatment, Natasha went on to have her third child Herbie. She still had six monthly bone marrow tests until in March 2011 she was finally given the all-clear.

Since then her charity has gone from strength to strength and she was nominated at the end of the last year to be one of the official torch bearers.

“It is such an honour to be selected because it is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

“The day I was due to find out whether I’d been chosen I told my boys that it would either be bread and butter for tea or steak – depending on the news.”

Natasha has now started training for her role which involves running with the flaming torch for a mile on July 12 somewhere on the route between Salisbury and Weymouth.

“We will know more details in March as to exactly what time and where it will be but until then I’ve started trying to get fitter. I’m really worried that I will trip over or the flame with go out!

“My two eldest sons are being very supportive too. They accompany me on their bikes now when I go out for a run in the evenings.”

But one of the biggest motivators for Natasha is the memory of her brother Adam Carter, a former Corfe Hills School pupil who died suddenly on a school trip from a heart attack at the age of 18.

“It was my brother who was the sports fan. I never liked PE at school. He would be so excited and proud. I will be thinking of him – I will probably be very emotional on the day. I am doing this for him and for my family – it is a really big thing for all of us.”