Natalie Barr

Natalie is 18 and would be ideal for 2 reasons. 1. Natalie has captained hockey at Ireland at U16 and U18 and captained Ulster to UK School Games gold in 2010 and Lurgan College to Ulster and All Ireland success this year. 2. In the middle of all this Natalie lost her 20yr old sister Charlene to Cystic Fibrosis in October 2010. Charlene launched a project (www.charlenesproject.org) to fundraise for a school and clean water supply in Uganda. Before she died she raised 120k. The school is now built and the water is flowing. a whole community now have access to education (250kids) + water because of Natalies sister. Charlene was recently honoured by winning the Spirit of Northern Ireland Award.. As a keen sports person who has represented her country, and who has achieved so much in schools hockey, Natalie evidences the power of sport to help overcome adversity. By running on behalf of her sister who achieved so much in her short life, she would evidence the determination to overcome any and all obstacles to those who cannot do what so many others take for granted. Natalie is an ideal candidate to run a leg of the Olympic torch relay as she personally encompases determination, drive, focus, overcoming adversity alongside representing the spirit of her sister who did not let ill health or physical disability stop her living her life to the full and following through on her vision to impact the lives of people she never met.