Coca-Cola Torchbearers – January 22nd
NAME: Angie Palmer
Hometown: Cranbrook, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Cranbrook
Torchbearer number: OTR085-131
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 34
Torchbearer Story:
Angie’s Palmer’s story is based on how she tried to inspire others, as she has been inspired. She is 34 years old and has been truly inspired by the Canadian Cancer Society and the Relay for Life. Palmer first got involved with the Relay in 2008. She submitted a team at the last minute. To motivate them, Angie promised her team that if they could raise at least $1000 she would allow one of them to shave her head at the event. Well, they almost raised $2000 and Angie’s head was shaved. She even sang in front of everyone at the event while they shaved her head. The local paper also interviewed her and took her photo. Angie found the event very moving. She heard tons of stories from people who have been impacted by cancer, which made her realize why it is so important to get involved. Angie has submitted a team again this year. She has also inspired a family member to submit her own team. Like Angie, her family member raised funds and shaved her head for the Relay. Angie finds this truly inspiring!
NAME: Dawn Voysey
Hometown: Fernie, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Kimberley
Torchbearer number: OTR085-107
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 49
Torchbearer Story:
Dawn Voysey almost did not apply for the Olympic Torch Relay. Six months of chemotherapy, followed by surgery and radiation have eroded most of her energy and left her drained from battling breast cancer. However, the Olympics have always inspired her. As Voysey struggled through her treatments, the possibility of carrying the Olympic Torch helped pull her forward. Each day, she focused on physical activity, sometimes walking for only five minutes. During six weeks of radiation, she took the stairs in the hospital, forgoing the ease of the elevator. Slowly, Voysey rebuilt her strength.
On her good days, Voysey has worked at her school where she is an elementary vice-principal, organizing physical activities for students such as skiing, hockey, climbing, swimming and snowshoeing to promote healthy living and self-esteem. Now she is back at work and play, teaching and coaching children and encouraging them to be active and give their best. Voysey hopes that she can continue to inspire her students to reach for their dreams, to fight through the tough times, and to live the Olympic ideals through active participation in all aspects of life.
NAME: Colleen Sharp
Hometown: Invermere, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Invermere
Torchbearer number: OTR085-043
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 20
Torchbearer Story:
Sports have always been a way of life for Colleen Sharp. As a Kinesiology student at the University of Calgary, she is very aware of the benefits of active living. Since attending university, her passion for physical activity has expanded greatly and she has become involved in a variety of activities. As a student, she finds it is often hard to find time to do anything other than school but Colleen always makes the effort to find the time. Not only do sports provide her with a way of relieving her stress but they also allow her to spend quality time her friends and family.
Colleen loves the physical activities that are available to Canadians such as cross country skiing or hiking. She is proud to take advantage of the natural beauty that Canada has to offer. Colleen is greatly honored to be a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
NAME: Megan Kinley
Hometown: Invermere, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Invermere
Torchbearer number: OTR085-044
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 14
Torchbearer Story:
‘Yuck, look, a beer can!’ Megan Kinley and a friend were paddling around their lake, and Megan noticed a can on the bottom of the sand. She picked up the can without really thinking about it, and that is how it started. The two friends just kept paddling around the shore and picking up more and more garbage. Then they thought ‘Why not, we are already out here, what is this going to cost us?’
After about two hours of cleaning, they returned home with almost a full garbage bag of junk. They had found everything from volleyballs to Styrofoam to plastic bags to broken glass. Megan was inspired to protect her local environment and she hopes she inspired others in her community to do the same.
NAME: Brenda Caldwell
Hometown: Fernie, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Cranbrook
Torchbearer number: OTR085-124
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 40
Torchbearer Story:
Brenda Caldwlell is proud to have worked the Youth in Sogo Active to help promote a healthier lifestyle for the youth in our school and community. She found that the personal commitments she made to use less water made her feel proud of what she has accomplished. She is dedicated to promoting a healthy active lifestyle and helping to conserve for our planet and the future!
NAME: Justyna Boon
Hometown: Cranbrook, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Cranbrook
Torchbearer number: OTR085-137
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 19
Torchbearer Story:
Justyna Boon found that making changes to lead a more physically active life had positive effects on parts of her life. She began taking taekwondo and her self-esteem grew. She began to try harder in school and her marks improved. Her relationships with her family improved and then began to practice taekwondo together. Justyna credits taekwondo with changing her life. She is proud of the person she is today and she is proud to be part of the Coca Cola Torch relay.
NAME: Chris New
Hometown: Cranbrook, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Cranbrook
Torchbearer number: OTR085-132
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 44
Torchbearer Story:
Chris New’s family tries to embrace an environmentally friendly approach to their daily life. By doing so, they demonstrate to their friends and family that it is quite easy to make choices that are good for the planet. Common practices around their house include washing clothes in cold water, and making sure there are full loads. When the laundry is done, it is hung to dry. During rainy days or the winter months, the clothesline is set up in the basement. They are also avid recyclers. They also make sure to compost. The New’s have replaced their old light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs, they unplug unused appliances, use a push mower and most recently, purchasing a vehicle with good gas mileage.
Chris is proud to be a green living inspiration to his family and friends. By living the way they do, friends and family have picked up the many of the practices of living green.
NAME: Michelle Cramton
Hometown: Invermere, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Invermere
Torchbearer number: OTR085-049
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 41
Torchbearer Story:
Ever since Michelle Cramton saw 1976 Montreal Olympic Summer Games, she dreamt of being an Olympic athlete. She has channelled her passion for sport in to be being an aerobics instructor, hiker, camper, fisher, golfer, biker and single mother living in the magnificent Rocky Mountains.
During the 2006 Winter Olympics, every time a Canadian athlete won a medal, Michelle and her daughter would make a sign for their front window with the name and medal won by each Canadian Olympian. Today, Michelle is proud that her daughter gets to see her be part of the Olympic spirit as a Coca Cola Olympic Torchbearer.
NAME: Scott Adams
Hometown: Kimberley, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Kimberley
Torchbearer number: OTR085-111
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 38
Torchbearer Story:
Scott Adams is a two time Winter Paralympian in Alpine racing. He represented Australia at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter games and the 2006 Torino Italy Winter games.
NAME: Janet Ruzycki
Hometown: Burnaby, British Columbia
Carrying Torch: Fairmont Hot Springs
Torchbearer number: OTR085-091
Torch Relay Segment: January 22nd, 2010
Age: 49
Torchbearer Story:
Janet Ruzycki and her husband were renovating their home this year and decided to make the build green! They selected a builder based on his willingness to creatively help them minimize the removal of trees. Those that had to be removed were then milled for reuse in their new home. The window frames, fascia boards, beams and posts in the home came from their own trees. A set of stone stairs were built and a creek bed lined from the stone that resulted as part of their excavation. This allowed the Ruzycki’s to avoid disposing of their own materials, which reduced the carbon footprint associated with transporting materials for disposal and re-purchasing other material for this purpose. Janet is proud of the finished project. She says it looks fantastic and clearly fits in with the west coast BC environment.
