Welsh charity worker chosen to carry Olympic Torch

A Welsh charity worker has welcomed 2012 with open arms - as she will be carrying the Olympic torch on its nationwide tour ahead of the games in London.
Action for Children worker Nicci Shrimpton, 45, is set to become one of 8,000 runners who will light the way to the world's greatest sporting event.
The Community Support Services Coordinator, of Caersws in North Powys was selected to be a torchbearer by the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) after being nominated by her manager, Eve Chinnery.
Nicci was nominated to carry the torch for her work with disabled children as well as many extra fundraising efforts for a variety of charities and initiatives connected to her work at the project.
The keen runner has raised hundreds of pounds for charity by completing the Cardiff Half Marathon and is set to compete in this year's London Marathon.
And she is looking forward to her Olympic role, which will see her carry the torch along a part of its route in the 70-day Olympic Torchbearer Relay around the UK, before it arrives in London for the start of the summer Games in July. 
"I don't know where I will be carrying it yet, but I have been told I will have it on May 27th somewhere between Swansea and Aberystwyth. It could be anywhere on the route, but I hope it's close to home!" says Nicci.
She added that when she received the confirmation email from LOCOG, she couldn't believe it. "I was gobsmacked but absolutely delighted to be chosen as I thought the chances of actually being picked were so minimal. I couldn't be more pleased".
"Nicci thoroughly deserves to take part in this historic sporting event. She is a hard working and dedicated member of the team at Powys Community Support Service and also dedicates her spare time to the disabled children outside of working hours, as well as studying for an Open University degree and bringing up to two teenage sons," says Eve Chinnery, Action for Children Service Manager, said
Visit Nicci's fundraising page at: http://www.justgiving.com/Nicci-Shrimpton and her blog at http://www.realbuzz.com/blogs/u/niccishrimpton/niccis-belated-40th-birthday-challenge/