IT’S a double celebration for friends Wendy Morrell and Karen Ruddlesden, who have both been chosen as Olympic torchbearers.

The pair, who became friends through Dogs for the Disabled as they both have assistance dogs, nominated each other for the honour and were delighted to have been both chosen.

Wendy, from Broadstone, will be carrying the torch in Upton and said the news marked a turning point in her life.

She added: “In late 2009 my dad died and very suddenly in early 2010 my assistance dog Caesar died. It was like the walls came tumbling down. It’s a celebration to know that life does go on and I can continue.”

Wendy, 52, who has been paired with a new assistance dog, called Udo, also carried the Olympic torch at the last games in China.

She was nominated for her work with the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games, advising on the need for assistance dogs and on campaigning for disabled access – the same reasons she nominated Karen, also from Broadstone.

Karen, 42, has a condition called Addison’s Disease, which means her body does not produce the cortisol hormone, causing stomach pain and weakness.

Her assistance dog Coco is the first in the world to be trained to detect by smell if her cortisol levels are too low and likely to send her into a coma.

Karen, who will be carrying the torch on the Poole route, said: “This is really a wonderful achievement for both of us. It’s really tremendous. It’s a dream come true, especially for us both to be able to do it.”

For others, the honour will be bittersweet.

Moordown resident Dave Ramsay, 54, was delighted to discover he had been nominated for the honour – until he realised he would not be in the country.

Dave, a retired police officer, set up the Vision of Hope project with the Winton Salvation Army in 1994 and visits the Ukraine every two years to run children’s clubs and renovate old people’s homes and orphanages.

It was his charity work which saw him put forward as a torchbearer by a mystery nominee, but he will actually be in the Ukraine while the torch is in Bournemouth.

But the Olympic committee finally agreed to change the date and Dave will be carrying the torch along part of the Nailsea route in Bristol on May 23.

He said: “It’s sad I’m not going to be doing it near here, but at least I still get to do it. I started up the mission, but there’s so many people involved in it, I just feel it’s great recognition of them all.”

Mo Constantine OBE, co-founder and product inventor for Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics has also been named as a torchbearer. She said: “I look forward to carrying the torch through my home town of Poole.“I am now starting to practice for the big day with the help of my colleagues.”

Also on the list is the Echo’s own fishing correspondent Chris Clark, 63, from Sway who will be carrying the torch along part of the Lymington route.