Eileen Gatward

I would to like nominate my mother in law, Eileen, to have the opportunity to carry the torch at the Olympics in London 2012. This would be a fitting tribute for a woman who has been the light and torch bearer for her community throughout her life. She has devoted much of her life to the service of others including a career in Home Care but also as an active member and volunteer through the church, Mother's Union & Victim Support. She has undertaken such diverse roles as Treasurer & Enrolling Member (Chairman) but throughout her focus has always been helping others. She also somehow managed to find time to lovingly raise a family of 3 children and be centre of family life. At the age of 81, she is still volunteering for the Witness Support programme where she provides hands-on support to people going to court by giving them someone who can make them more at ease through this, at times, very stressful process. In recent years she has suffered 2 broken legs in different accidents. After the first one she was told that it was touch and go whether she would walk again. Her determination to prove them wrong, do her exercises and succeed pulled her through and she is still walking and volunteering - all be it a little slower than before. It has never dawned on her that at her age most people are receiving support from their community rather than continuing to give it! She is quite simply an inspiration to everyone who meets her and a role model for any community.