Barry Harper

I think Barry is inspirational because he has served locally as a Police Officer until retirement. Throughout his career and since he was a child he has always found time to take part in a variety of sports and has raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity. The more adventurous of his feats have been three expeditions to both Poles. In 2005 he helped guide a visually impaired adventurer to achieve his ambition of reaching the North Pole. This included Barry jumping into freezing cold water to rescue the guy when he accidentally slipped in. On the same adventure Barry took the 'Olympic bid' flag and waved it triumphantly at the pole to support the London 2012 bid. In 2008 Barry tackled Shackleton's unfinished journey to the South Pole. The pole trips and the 100 half marathons and 13 full marathons that Barry has participated in have helped him raise tens of thousands of pounds for charity. The most note worthy charities being the Rainbows Hospice for Children and Portland College for the Disabled. Barry was a member of the first team to cross the Great Slave Lake in Canada on skis; He has climbed Mont Blanc, climbed to Machu Pichu and been a competitor in the Three Peaks Yacht race. Many of his adventures have been at some great personal risk but always on his mind have been the money raised for charity and enabling others to achieve their goals, and this is why I would like to nominate him to carry the Olympic torch for the event that he did so much to publicise.