It’s safe to say Ruth Harland is excited. As the manger of Conference Services at The University of Western Ontario, she was awarded the honour of being an Olympic torch bearer when the flame makes its way through London later this month on the way to Vancouver.
Harland’s nine-year-old daughter Rachel, and her love of the Olympic Games, were behind sending in entry after entry in hopes of being one of 12,000 torchbearers across the country.
Ruth Harland, Manager of Conference Services, will show her Olympic spirit Dec. 27 as she carries the torch on its way through London.
Following months of anticipation, she struck gold. She’ll be walking down a portion of Dundas Street shortly after 8 a.m. on Dec. 27 with the torch in hand.
“Everyday it gets closer and I hear something about the Olympics, or someone asks me about the torch run, I started getting all excited again.”
Her daughter will be watching from the sidewalk as she makes a 300-metre trek with the three-and-a-half pound torch held high.
Harland would have liked for her daughter to be part of the event, but torch bearers must be at least 13 years of age or older.
“To me, it’s amazing that I am going to be part of history,” she adds. “As soon as I found out I was selected I began calling everyone I knew.”
Harland’s brother Dave McLean was also chosen to be a torchbearer, and will do his route five days earlier.
To earn the right to carry the torch, Harland was required to pass a number of stages, including writing a short essay outlining why she wanted to carry the torch and how she would promote a healthy lifestyle.
Here is Harland’s entry:
A Mother’s Dream
Last summer, my eight-year-old daughter fell in love for the first time. The object of her affection was the Summer Olympics’ athletes’ spirit. The torch was lit and she was enthralled, enamoured by the athletes as they strove to achieve gold.
Watching her inspired me to challenge myself to become more active. This year, my commitment is to do exactly that, by exercising more and maintaining a balanced diet.
It is my hope that I can provide her with that same inspiration. I am fortunate that my career has enabled me to introduce my daughter and her friends to various events and athletes who promote active living everyday.
Included in these was a memorable 2006 Paralympic event, with a simple message: challenges can be overcome and dreams can be realized.
For the past few years, I have actively participated on the local Sports Council. We manage the area chapter of Kidsport, an organization that provides financial assistance for sport registrations to families in need.
We have anonymously helped more than 100 children to live actively.
I will never be an Olympic athlete, but carrying the torch is my own Olympic dream. And so to my daughter I say … ‘Dream big and believe in those dreams; challenge yourself and keep the flame burning bright’