A VETERAN marathon runner, a disabled footballer and a woman who uses an assistance dog to cope with a rare disorder are among the hundreds of people who will carry the Olympic torch through Dorset.

Around 115 torchbearers a day will carry the Olympic Flame during its 8,000-mile journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on July 27 for the opening ceremony.

Among the people chosen are Karen Ruddlesden, of Broadstone, who will carry it on part of its route through Poole.

The 42-year-old Broadstone woman has fought a rare chromosome disorder called Addison’s disease from birth and has experienced serious illness and more than 80 operations.

After a chance meeting with a friend’s assistance dog, she realised that the dog could recognise her waves of illness before she could.

Now Karen is constantly accompanied by Coco, the first Addison’s assistance dog, as she fundraises and works to raise awareness.

Another local hero chosen is 14-year-old Nathan Blackie, who will be one of those carrying the torch through Dorchester.

Nathan, of Bourne-mouth, suffers from cerebral palsy and has undergone surgery to straighten his legs.

Despite this, he was determined to carry on playing football and regularly turns out for the AFC Bournemouth Ability Counts Football Club.

He has made it his goal to walk his stretch of the torch relay route unaided.

Grandmother Vivien Budd will be another of Poole’s torchbearers. She has run 13 marathons with the most recent one being in 2010 when she was 62.

Vivien, who will be carrying the torch in Branksome, said: “I’m privileged, honoured and humbled to have been chosen.

“I can’t believe I am one of 8,000 torchbearers.”

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

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.

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

Bournemouth athletics coach Peter Roscoe will also have the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch, after being nominated by gold medallist Jason Gardener.

And young Bournemouth swimmer Alice Tai, who hopes to represent Team GB one day, is another torchbearer.

The disabled youngster from Barton-on-Sea attends Bourne-mouth Collegiate School and swims for almost 15 hours a week in pursuit of her dream.