Olympic torchbearers unveiled

The names of the torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame to London 2012 have been revealed alongside the route the torch will take.

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Olympic torch bearers announced for the north-east

Nadine Hollingsworth's son Sebastian was born with a serious heart defect. Credit: ITV

Nadine Hollingsworth from North Shields has been chosen as an Olympic torch bearer in recognition of the years she has spent years campaigning for more local services for children with heart defects.

Her son Sebastian was born with a serious heart defect and at just three months old had open heart surgery.

Nadine and her husband Ivan have raised nearly £80,000 for the Children's Heart Unit at the Freeman Hospital.

Campaigner announced as Olympic torch bearer in south of Scotland

Andrew Doyle, Olympic torch bearer Credit: ITV Borders

A Gretna man has been chosen to carry the Olympic flame through the town in recognition of the work he has done campaigning for the rights of people with learning difficulties.

Andrew said: "I'm so proud to be representing everyone with learning difficulties at this amazing event. We have as much right as anyone else to lead happy, integrated lives.

"I hope this shows other people that challenges can be overcome and we can be whatever we want to be."

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Olympic Torchbearer: 'it's a once in a lifetime opportunity'

Stephen Douglas is filming with Adele Edwards in Staffordshire. She beat cancer 2 years ago and has since raised thousands of pounds for cancer charities.

Adele Edwards Olympic Torchbearer Credit: ITV News/Stephen Douglas

Adele described being chosen to carry the Olympic Torch as a 'once in a lifetime opportunity'.

She can't wait to carry the torch and be part of the Olympics. Hear more from Adele on tonight's ITV News.

Jonathan Edwards on the Olympic Torch 'kiss'

Former Olympic champion and member of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Locog) Jonathan Edwards said: "It's a really exciting day. The torch relay is literally around the corner and it's all systems go."

Explaining the moment when the torches are held together to pass on the flame, the former triple-jumper said:

The kiss is the big moment when the flame is passed from torchbearer to torchbearer and obviously you have to get it right - you don't want the flame to go out.

It's called a kiss. You have to hold them together for about ten seconds to make sure the flame passes and then the next runner runs off for their 300m stint.

Jane Tomlinson's son to be an Olympic Torchbearer

The teenage son of charity fundraiser Jane Tomlinson has said that he will carry the Olympic Torch on behalf of his late mother.

His mother, who died from cancer in 2007 at the age of 43, carried the torch ahead of the 2004 Games in Athens.

Steven, 14, said: "I'm really excited about being nominated as a torchbearer.

"It's a great opportunity to be part of the Olympics. I will be doing it on behalf of my sisters and my mum. It should be a great experience."

British terminal cancer sufferer Jane Tomlinson (L) kisses her 6-year-old son Steven after completing a triathlon in 2003 Credit: Reuters

Mrs Tomlinson inspired thousands of people with her charity challenges while battling against terminal cancer.

She raised more than £1.85 million for the Jane Tomlinson Appeal.

She was awarded the MBE for her work in June 2003 and later made a CBE.

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