Julie Rogers

I believe my sister deserves the honour to carry the Olympic Flame because in my heart and in the heart of many others, she is our Hero. Born with a fibia and tibular missing, she had to go for a through knee operation at the early age of two and since then she has been growing with the fact that she, unlike other children, needs a prosthetic leg.

Thankfully, she turned what would be seen as a weakness into her strength. Ironically, she had gained a passion for sports; the one thing we thought she couldn't possibly excel in. But in 2010 Julie had become the youngest member to have joined the Great Britain sitting volleyball team and later received the Bedford Local Sport Council Disability Sport Award.

It is already a challenge in life to be an amputee, but Julie creates more challenges for herself and sees these as opportunities. Not only does she challenge herself physically but she excels herself mentally. Academically, she is one of the brightest students topping every class and gaining numerous awards to strive to give herself the very best. Julie represents the best of the future of England. She does not let the hindrance affect her daily life but rises above it all, remains positive and goes that extra mile to become the best that she possibly can.