Torchbearers
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Many members of the Church have been selected to carry the Olympic torch. Some are listed here; others have been featured in earlier editions. More will be featured in coming issues of the Church News.
Best
friends
Jared Parkin, Brookhaven Ward, Kaysville Utah East Stake, and Tyler Jensen (far right), Farmington 9th Ward, Farmington Utah South Stake, will exchange the torch on Feb. 8. The young men have been best friends since kindergarten. Tyler was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy when he was 9 and is constrained to a wheelchair, however the two have remained friends. "Without Jared, Tyler's life would have been much more difficult and without Tyler, Jared would not have known and experienced the joy and sweet feelings that are the result of selfless service," states their nomination form. Their story has been spotlighted on a video that goes with the torch to every city.
Reed and Lorena Markham, Welby 8th Ward,
Welby Utah Stake, were nominated for their work to improve America's
literacy programs.
Shaanta M. Kamai, Brigham Young University
230th Ward, BYU 20th Stake, was nominated for donating a kidney to her
father, without regard to her own health.
Melodie Winn, BYU 154th Ward, BYU 2nd Stake,
will carry the torch in early February. At 3-ft.-2-in., she stands only 6
inches taller than the torch. "I'm just like everyone else, just smaller,"
she said.
Garth Ogden, Richfield 8th Ward, Richfield Utah East Stake, was working on a farm 12 years ago when his hands became caught in the blades of a corn chopper. He endured 15 surgeries, but this "has not slowed him down or caused him to consider himself handicapped."
Mary Clark Petrarca, (far left) Snyderville
Ward, Park City Utah Stake, works with handicapped children. She has a
special love for them because her daughter, Celeste
Clark, 18, has Down syndrome. Sister Clark was nominated by a fellow
educator; her story was so well received that Celeste was also invited to
carry the torch.
Don Verrue, Lolo Ward, Stevensville Montana Stake, was nominated because he has always dreamed of being in the Olympics. He likes to stay physically fit and works with the Boy Scouts.
Sheila Bray, Cedaredge Ward, Montrose
Colorado Stake, a single mother of three, was recognized for teaching her
children "to enjoy life and the struggles that come with it."
James Lee Dunne, Salem 5th Ward, Salem Oregon
Stake, carried the flame in Salem's Riverfront Park Jan. 22. An
enthusiastic Scout leader, he ran a marathon last summer to raise money for
a teenager with cancer.
Kathy Eller, Salt Lake 11th Ward, Salt Lake
Central Stake, was nominated because she is so devoted to her students,
giving them encouragement, motivation and concern. She goes the extra mile
for them even though she struggles with bone cancer.
Dennis Molyneaux, Shadowbrook Ward, Kaysville
Utah South Stake, was accidentally shot in the hip while hunting when his
was 12. His dream of running in the Olympics vanished. He is now honored to
have the opportunity to be a torchbearer.
Jeanette Hiner, Boise 10th Ward, Boise Idaho South Stake, nominated a co-worker to carry the torch. Because of her inspirational letter, the Olympic committee chose Sister Hiner to also carry the Olympic torch Jan. 26 in Twin Falls, Idaho.
Norman O. Wahlstrom, Kaysville 17th Ward,
Kaysville Utah East Stake, was asked by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee
to run with the Olympic flame Feb. 6 in Ogden, Utah, in honor of his
mother, Mary Alice Wahlstrom, and his sister, Carolyn W. Beug, who were
killed when their plane crashed into the World Trade Center.
Sharon Wangsgard, Huntsville 2nd Ward,
Huntsville Utah Stake, was nominated for the genuine care and thoughtful
concern she shows her junior high school students as a teacher and
coach.
Tyler Collette,16, Bedford Ward, Concord New
Hampshire Stake, carried the torch Dec. 28 in Manchester, N.H. He was
selected because he collected $6,000 worth of sporting equipment for a K-12
school in Moldova, one of the poorest countries in Europe.
Matt Maw, Utah State University 3rd Ward,
Logan Utah University 6th Stake, became a quadriplegic after an accident
while performing as the university's mascot. A friend said he doesn't let
his disability get him down. "I am very impressed with his optimism."
Cameron Randall, 16 (far left), and Bryan Randall, 14, Buena Vista Ward, Golden
Colorado Stake, have been selected to carry the torch in Buena Vista, Colo.
Cameron was born with learning problems due to birth complications. His
parents were told he would never read beyond a 4th grade level; he reads at
an 8th grade level and his comprehension and math skills are between an
11th and 12th grade level. He is active in Scouts and earned his Eagle
award. Bryan's Eagle project is awaiting its review at the Eagle Board. He
is a talented artist and has one picture hanging in the city's town
hall.
Karla Harrison, Cottonwood 10th Ward, Salt
Lake Big Cottonwood Stake, marshaled the help of her family and friends to
buy sewing machines and fabric for a village in Honduras. She helped
deliver the machines and taught the women to sew.
Amy Johnson Wilks, Battlecreek Ward, Salem
Oregon Stake, was nominated for planning and carrying out a fund-raising
program for Koryn Keck, a young woman who suffered from and eventually
succumbed to Hodgkin's Lymphoma.
Joani Richardson, Crescent Park 6th Ward,
Sandy Utah Crescent Park Stake, is an avid runner and has been inspiring
excellence in her students for more than 27 years as a teacher.
Randy Anderson, Westlake Ward, Katy Texas
Stake, was the first person to carry the torch in Oklahoma City, Jan. 11.
He was nominated by former students because of his inspirational and
motivational speaking abilities and his service in the Vietnam War.
Church News readers are encouraged to submit information and photos of members participating as torch bearers. Must include ward and stake information. Please submit photos by e-mail attachment in JPEG format.
E-mail: shaun@desnews.com
