A HEAD teacher, students and campaigners are among the proud Warringtonians who have been selected to carry the Olympic torch on its journey through the region.

And for Woolston’s St Peter’s Catholic Primary School head teacher Helen Lea it should mean the 42-year-old will be able to share the momentous day with her pupils.

Her passion for the Olympics and getting pupils active through sport are the reasons she is one of the chosen few.

Helen, of Bruche Avenue, said: “Our school has already taken part in a copy of the Olympic Torch Relay. Hopefully I’ll be running near to Orford Park so the children can be there to see this momentous event and all the other torchbearers too.”

Meanwhile three young people who have made a difference to the town through their work with the Wolves Charitable Foundation have also been chosen to carry the flame.

Priestley College student Matthew Wilkinson, aged 17, will be relaying the torch in St Helens on June 1, 14-year-old Alice Kelly, from Lymm High School, will do the honours in Lytham on June 23 and Lymm High School sixth former Jason El-Kaleh will carry the torch in Warrington on May 31.

Matthew, from Lower Walton, said: “We all got nominated by Andrea our youth worker who works for the Wolves Charitable Foundation for the volunteering we do.”

It will be an early start for Alice who will lead the route at 6am.

Others taking part in the torch relay through Warrington include 12-year-old Emily Woodward, from the town.

Warringtonians Donna Butler, aged 47, has been selected to carry the torch in Chester and 69-year-old Eddie Johnson will do the same in Lowton.

SOME of the town’s sporting stars have also been chosen to carry the Olympic torch.

Great Sankey resident Stephen Deakin MBE, will get the chance to carry the torch in Warrington.

The 50-year-old is the manager of the Royal Liverpool Hospital Transplant sports team and an enthusiastic campaigner for organ donation after undergoing a kidney transplant 25 years ago.

He is a keen sportsman and has even swam the English Channel despite having both legs amputated below the knee.

He said: “When I first heard I had been nominated I was absolutely made up to be chosen to carry the torch. I am really honoured and humbled.”

Swimmer and former Warrington Guardian Sports Personality winner Aden Walker will represent the town on the Acrefair leg in Wrexham on May 30.

The 42-year-old, from Great Sankey, said: “I found out on Thursday and I’m really thrilled.

“It was my mum who nominated me for the relay and it was brilliant when I found out.

“I have run for the Commonwealth Games in Manchester but never done it for the Olympics. I’m a little bit nervous because all the world’s eyes will be on me.”

And Paralympic hopeful Adrian Derbyshire will be on the Chester route, also on May 30.

The 37-year-old, from Great Sankey, who hopes to compete in wheelchair fencing at the London games, said: “It was a bit of a surprise. I think a couple of people nominated me but it came down to one of my good friends Gareth Brown, he has been with me all the way through to winning two gold medals and three silver medals for Great Britain for wheelchair fencing.

“He’s the one who drives me 60-miles a week for training.

“I’m in training to hopefully be selected to be in the Olympics anyway and it was a fantastic phone call to receive.

“It’s going to be absolutely crazy but what an awesome crazy.”