So, who are the Torchbearers?

Torch relay organisers LOCOG stated that 90 per cent of relay places would go to the public - and that all torchbearers including those nominated by corporate sponsors should have stories meeting the criteria of “youth”, “personal bests and/or contribution to the community”.

The London 2012 website says: "London 2012 has found 8,000 truly inspirational people from across the UK to carry the Olympic Flame – a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

So who are the people chosen? The Echo decided to do some digging inspired by Help Me Investigate who have been researching torchbearers since the list was revealed. Here's a breakdown - including where they're from, what their nomination story said, and any connections with Olympic partners that we could identify. If you can help email sam.shepherd@bournemouthecho.co.uk

This page will be updated with profiles of Dorset's own torchbearers as the week goes on - if you know anyone who deserves to be highlighted, let us know!

The sponsor-nominated, the overseas and the Olympic staff

Thursday

Lorna Perry, 44

Hometown: Bray

Nominated because: Single mother, bringing up two daughters, one autistic. I've been told I'm always happy, joking & positive.

Running in Iwerne Minster

Andy Vittles, 40

Hometown: Yeovil

Nominated because: As recognition by Vodafone of being a brand embassador, key team player and demonstrating over target performance.

Running in Wyke Regis

Alex Bright, 23

Hometown: Whitchurch

Nominated because: aim to assist the Metropolitan Police Service with policing the Olympics, and other major events to keep London safe.

Running in Wyke Regis

Friday

Annamaria Fleck, 27

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Orphan who founded a dance school to teach underprivileged children for free

Running in Portland Bill

Barnabas Hardi, 14

Hometown: Siofok, Hungary

Nominated because: Hungarian boxing bronze medalist who saved a mother and child from drowning in a river

Running in Weston

Lousie Makin, 47

Hometown: Gloucester

Nominated because: One of relay sponsor Lloyds' runners; a champion fundraiser famous for her cake sales

Running in Weston


Vickie Mattock, 39

Hometown: Gloucester

Nominated because: Lloyds nominee who has motivated and supported her team to raise money for Acorns

Running in Portland

Chantel Cockle, 38

Hometown: Gloucester

Nominated because: Lloyds nominee and running coach who raised £1200 for Get Kids Going by running the London Marathon

Running in Portland

Andrea Snow, 44

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Founder of the Seedling Trust, which helps Hungarian orphans

Running in Weymouth


Mira Kiss, 36

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Paralysed by a disease in 2008, since overcome the illness to run three marathons

Running in Weymouth

Ranil Jayawardena, 25

Hometown: Bramley

Nominated because: No official nomination story, but is a councillor in Basingstoke and a senior manager for relay sponsors LloydsTSB.

Running in Preston

Edina Toman, 30

Hometown: Ipolydamásd, Hungary

Nominated because: Recovered from a pulmonary embolism and wrote a book encouraging sick people not to give up

Running in Preston


Anoojan Nithiyanantharajah, 23

Hometown: Enfield

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Swanage

Balázs Várkonyi, 33

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Swanage

Mohammed Akram, 30

Hometown: Newport

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Swanage


Eva Steinbach, 52

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Since the death of her Downs Syndrome child she has campaigned to support parents of Downs Syndrome babies.

Running in Swanage

Zita Vajagel, 19

Hometown: Battonya, Hungary

Nominated because: Zita grew up in an SOS children's village for orphans. Her dream is to be a physical education teacher to be able to teach kids and give them a better future.

Running in Swanage

Janos Vadon, 42

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Radio presenter at Hungary's biggest commercial radio channel with 1 million daily listeners. He is a great environmentalist and helped raise money for Hungary's sludge victims.

Running in Stoborough


Mohsen Roshan, 48

Hometown: Forton

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Sandford

Peter Dr Fazekas, 36

Hometown: Veszprem, Hungary

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Sandford

Imre Mazsa, 36

Hometown: Zalagerszeg, Hungary

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Upton


Balazs Kunos, 38

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Upton

Maria Naxaki, 35

Hometown: Madrid

Nominated because: No official info, but her Facebook page describes her as working for the Olympic Broadcasting Service

Running in Poole

Reece Best, 21

Hometown: Bracknell

Nominated because: No official info, but he runs a YouTube channel called Bestology

Running in Poole


Marian Berger, 39

Hometown: Zilina, Slovakia

Nominated because: EDF Energy nominee who is 90 per cent disabled thanks to Addison's disease and adrenomyeloneuropathy. She will need two crutches to walk the 300m distance

Running in Poole

Attila Varkonyi, 48

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Poole

Steve Gregory, 63

Hometown: Epping

Nominated because: No official info, but his LinkedIn account describes him as a Venue Safety Officer for London 2012

Running in Bournemouth


Bobby Wang, 36

Hometown: Madrid

Nominated because: Chinese sports television producer working for the Olympic Broadcasting Service

Running in Bournemouth

Sebastien Otten, 34, 36

Hometown: Lierneux

Nominated because: "Sebastian's personal commitment to sustainable development doesn't rest on colossal buildings and pompous declarations but modest actions that, in the end, bear fruit." reads his nomination story

Running in Bournemouth

Steve Goodey, 59

Hometown: Essex

Nominated because: Worked for BBC Outside Broadcasts for nearly 40 years covering many major sporting events including every Summer Olympics since Seoul in 1988, now works for the Olympic Broadcasting Service

Running in Bournemouth

Saturday

Alimjan Halik, 41

Hometown: Bijie City

Nominated because: Street seller who established the Alimu Fund using by his two thirds of his income. More than one hundred college students who come from rural areas are supported by this fund

Running in Bournemouth

Chenbing Mao, 25,

Hometown: Aojiang, China

Nominated because: "She is an ordinary company employee and she has the most rare blood type. She had saved several critical patients with her unique blood"

Running in Boscombe

Lei Ge, 30

Hometown: Beijing

Nominated because: his volunteering work over the last ten years and his influence in getting other young people to volunteer

Running in Boscombe


Xiaoting Pen, 26

Hometown: Jinan, China

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Christchurch

Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers

Tao Wen, 30

Hometown: Shanghai

Nominated because: A football player whose career was ended by injury, he became a taxi driver and did free services for children and the elderly. Now a professional racing driver

Running in Lyndhurst


Xuerui Wang, 41

Hometown: Zhuhai City, China

Nominated because: No official info, and Daily Echo investigations have drawn a blank

Running in Brockenhurst

Hengju Yu, 30

Hometown: Xingtai, China

Nominated because: Volunteer from China

Running in Lymington

Xingfen Wu, 25

Hometown: Jiangsu Gaoyou, China

Nominated because: Founded a children's home to help those whose parents have left to work in the cities.

Running in Lyndhurst

Corfe Castle and Swanage

Dean Lightwood, 43

Hometown: Brighton

Nominated because: Dean has helped at his local football club and raised £10,000 to build a new a mini-soccer facility.

Running in Corfe Castle

Richard Veres, 20

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Great sportsman, he has been 4×Junior World Champion, 2× Adult World Champion, 3× European Champion in Kick Boxing

Running in Corfe Castle

Sam Cousins, 18

Hometown: Wareham

Nominated because: Sargent at both Wareham and Swanage Air Training Core units

Running in Corfe Castle


Val Mylechreest, 49

Hometown: Bournemouth

Nominated because: Co-pastor a local church working with the most vulnerable and needy in the Bournemouth Area

Running in Corfe Castle

Anoojan
Nithiyanantharajah, 23

Hometown: Enfield

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Swanage

Balázs Várkonyi, 33

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Swanage


Mohammed Akram, 32

Hometown: Newport

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Swanage

Anton James, 44

Hometown: Fareham

Nominated because: Marathon runner has raised over £7k for breast cancer charities

Running in Swanage

Ben Ridd, 20

Hometown: Fareham

Nominated because: College student who was hospitalised for many months after a speed boat accident and it was believed that he would never walk again

Running in Swanage


Emma Knight, 25

Hometown: Dorset

Nominated because: Volunteer crew member for Poole RNLI

Running in Swanage

Emma Willis, 35

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: Breast cancer survivor who runs a voluntary organisation for young adults with cancer

Running in Swanage

Éva Steinbach, 52

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Since the death of her Downs Syndrome child she has campaigned to support parents of Downs Syndrome babies

Running in Swanage


Frank Roberts, 51

Hometown: Swanage

Nominated because: Ex-army sergeant and Swanage Railway volunteer who has previously completed sponsored walks to raise money for Swanage's Heroes Haven and The Baton Trust.

Running in Swanage

Geoff Holt, 46

Hometown: Southampton

Nominated because: disabled yachtsman from Hampshire who became the first disabled person to sail single-handed around the UK in a trimaran dinghy in 2007. In 2009 he became the first quadriplegic to sail unassisted across the Atlantic Ocean which won him the title of 2010 Yachsman of the Year and an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.

Running in Swanage

Gill Whitfield, 45

Hometown: Portsmouth

Nominated because: Previously raised money for the Katherine Hospice.

Running in Swanage


Jordan Cook, 14

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: Competitive trampolinist who coaches others

Running in Swanage

Robert Whittington, 50

Hometown: Winchester

Nominated because: Has completed 4 Winchester 10k runs, 3 Great South runs and the London Marathon where he has raised over £7k for breast cancer.

Running in Swanage

Roger Wilcox, 64

Hometown: Swanage

Nominated because: Former football referee, has coached juniors at Swanage cricket club.

Running in Swanage


Zita Vajgel, 19

Hometown: Battonya

Nominated because: Zita grew up in an SOS children's village for orphans. Her dream is to be a physical education teacher to be able to teach kids and give them a better future

Running in Swanage

Ady Rhodes, 45

Hometown: Wareham

Nominated because: Soldier for 22 years in 9/12 Royal Lancers and volunteer for Weymouth sea and marine cadet unit

Running in Stoborough

Guy Brown, 45

Hometown: Southampton

Nominated because: Control room supervisor at BP Hamble has previously completed the Great South Run and the London Marathon, raising thousands for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

Running in Stoborough


Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers

Janos Brown, 42

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: Radio presenter helped raise money for sludge victims

Running in Stoborough

Tom Brophy, 18

Hometown: Dorset

Nominated because: Sailor and qualified RYA dinghy instructor

Running in Stoborough


Jon Gill, 48

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: Suffered a severe stoke at the age of 44, set up the local branch of Different Strokes in Dorset

Running in Wareham

Sue Gillingham, 51

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: Sports coach at Branksome Heath Middle School

Running in Wareham

Mohsen Roshan, 48

Hometown: Forton, Hampshire

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Sandford


Peter Dr. Fazekas, 36

Hometown: Veszprem, Hungary

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Sandford

Hayley Finch, 31

Hometown: Bournemouth

Nominated because: Helps those involved in sport in Dorset reach their potential

Running in Sandford

Steve Cliffen, 58

Hometown: Christchurch

Nominated because: Co-creator of the Charitable Trust, which helps support various charities including those that help the disabled and disadvantaged as well as a school in Tanzania

Running in Sandford

John Bolt, 57

Hometown: Wimborne

Nominated because:No profile given

Running in Lytchett Minster

Nikila Newman, 32

Hometown: Wimborne

Nominated because:Set up the Infectious Street Dance Academy

Running in Lytchett Minster

Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers


Poole

Imre Mázsa, 36

Hometown: Zalaegerszeg

Nominated because: No profile given

Running in Upton

Andy Howe, 18

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: Started club for young children to learn football skills

Running in Upton

Eva Reichardt, 25

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because: PhD student at Bournemouth University involved in fundraising for various charities

Running in Upton


Mo Constantine, 59

Hometown: Dorset

Nominated because: Contributor of various animal and wildlife charities

Running in Upton

Wendy Morrell, 53

Hometown: Broadstone

Nominated because: Independent Disability Advisor to the Metropolitan Police, she started advocacy on behalf of disabled people for better inclusion; formed a local access group, became a Vice President of IAADP and has advised the UK government on transport needs of disabled people via DPTAC.

Running in Upton

Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers


Balázs Kunos, 38

Hometown: Budapest

Nominated because: No reason given

Running in Hamworthy

Joy Edkins, 56

Hometown: West Parley

Nominated because: No reason given

Running in Hamworthy

Barry Light, 60

Hometown: Bournemouth

Nominated because: Running 60 marathons in 60 weeks to raise £60k for charity.

Running in Hamworthy


David Taylor, 61

Hometown: Shaftesbury

Nominated because:President of the Local Lions Club and on the national board. Also chairman of the Local Cancer Research Society

Running in Hamworthy

Helen Sansom, 27

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:Social worker and regularly raises money for Leukaemia charities

Running in Hamworthy

Joe Arundel, 15

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:Keen sportsman

Running in Hamworthy


Richard Walker, 16

Hometown: Wimborne

Nominated because:Competes in national disability athletic events

Running in Hamworthy

Trevor Chambers, 69

Hometown: Bridport

Nominated because:Raised funds to secure and refurbish Morcombelake village hall and organises a monthly lunch club

Running in Hamworthy

Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers


Maria Naxaki, 35

Hometown: London

Nominated because:No profile given

Running in Poole

Matt Bitfield, 26

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:No profile given

Running in Poole

Reece Best, 21

Hometown: Bracknell

Nominated because:No profile given

Running in Poole


Adam Douglas, 49

Hometown: Chippenham

Nominated because:Head of PE department at school in Wiltshire

Running in Poole

Andy Clutton, 46

Hometown: Gosport

Nominated because:103 mile endurance runner and marathon coach

Running in Poole

Andy Mckenna, 17

Hometown: Aldershot

Nominated because:Going through recruitment process to become a Royal Marine Officer

Running in Poole


Claire Moyle, 52

Hometown: Littlehampton

Nominated because:Runs Worthing Harriers Special Olympics group

Running in Poole

Daisy Brookman, 27

Hometown: Eastleigh

Nominated because:Set up the Activity Buddy Scheme to train volunteers to support disabled people access sports and leisure activities, also runs dance, film and drama classes for those with physical and learning disabilities

Running in Poole

Drew Mcmahon, 34

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:Staff Sergeant and serves with the Royal Signals, for the past 3 years he has been running marathons across the globe for Help for Heroes, TroopAID and cancer charities

Running in Poole


Iain Weaver, 21

Hometown: Ferndown

Nominated because:Professional boxer

Running in Poole

Irene Taylor, 47

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:BT worker, survived complete lung failure

Running in Poole

Judge Keeping, 12

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:Keen sports player

Running in Poole


Karen Ruddlesden, 43

Hometown: Broadstone

Nominated because:Addison's Disease sufferer who works raising awareness of the disease and helping others who have Addison's Disease alert dogs

Running in Poole

Lewie Lett, 23

Hometown: Poole

Nominated because:Runs the U14s boys' session at Wessex Volleyball Club and the 15-18 beach sessions

Running in Poole

Marián Berger, 39

Hometown: Žilina, Slovakia

Nominated because:EDF Energy nominee who is 90 per cent disabled thanks to Addison's disease and adrenomyeloneuropathy. She will need two crutches to walk the 300m distance

Running in Poole


Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers

Peter Roscoe, 67

Hometown: Bournemouth

Nominated because:Volunteer athletics coach

Running in Poole

Scott Norman, 66

Hometown: Stourpaine

Nominated because:Chair of the Parish Council, North Dorset CAB, CEPEND- the community partnership for North Dorset, and DT11 Forum

Running in Poole


Liz Rose, 47

Hometown: Gillingham

Nominated because:Community psychiatric nurse dealing with elderly dementia

Running in Ashley Cross

Robyn Smith, 18

Hometown: Hythe

Nominated because:Wheelchair basketball coach, on the Youth Sport Trust Steering Group and community volunteer with her local Disability Multi sport Club

Running in Ashley Cross

Bournemouth Echo: The Olympic Torch is continuing its tour of the country with the youngest person to carry the flame among the torchbearers