Olympic Torch carriers in Swnasea

[singingsnapper]

Treat Trust Wales is a charity for which I am a patron for. They are working to introduce a rehabilitation centre for the disabled and people getting over illness in Wales. Melanie Davies is the founder of the charity who was involved in a motorcycle crash at the age of 15 and broke her back and lost all feeling from the chest down. In later years after the health system had failed her saying that she would not live to her 30th birthday, she has survived breast cancer twice, and written an autobiography called Never say die. As a footnote she ended up marrying the surgeon who first treated her when she was admitted in hospital at 15.

Mel was rightfully selected as one of the torch bearers in the Olympic Torch relay through Swansea. Here are a few pictures I took when there to support her:

Canon 5D mk III EF 180 f/3.5L at f/7.1 1/2500 ISO 500


mel-+flame by singingsnapper, on Flickr

same settings


mel+flame2 by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Canon 5D mk III EF 24 - 70L at 24mm and f/7.1 1/800 ISO 500


Mel-carrying-torch by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Canon 5D mk III EF 24 - 70 L at 35mm and f/13 1/160 ISO 500


here's-mel-handing-over-the-flame by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[digitalfingers]

Nice shots, I'm ready to Catch it coming down my road in the coming weeks, I'll be shooting from my 2nd floor window so hope to get some nice perspective shots.

[mlaumann]

The third photo is lol!

I have no idea why she is in a wheelchair tho, but its nice to see the olympic sports committee letting them join the party.



Digitalfingers > Which lense are you planning to use from up there then?

[singingsnapper]

The third photo is lol!

I have no idea why she is in a wheelchair tho, but its nice to see the olympic sports committee letting them join the party.



Digitalfingers > Which lense are you planning to use from up there then?

The torch relay isn't about the athletes but people who have made a difference to other people's lives. If you research Melanie Davies you will find her one of the most inspirational people around.

Come to think of it, I've actually said in my post how she came to be in a wheelchir - she was knocked off the back of her boyfriend's motorbike at 15 and was paralysed from the chest down. An excerpt from her book, Never Say Die will show you what she is like.

“NHS wheelchairs were not designed with self-esteem in mind. The armrests were so high that my arms, draped over them, looked like those of a gorilla, and the position of the footplates was even more bizarre: my long legs were hitched up unnaturally high, my knees pressed together almost at chest height, while my feet – miles apart – looked like they had had a bust up and broken off diplomatic relations. I looked like a rag doll who’d been dumped in a corner. This would not do. I tried a different tack. But pushing my knees outwards meant they flopped out so far as if I was about to give birth. I realised I had only two choices on how I faced the world: I could either look like a Pippi Long-stocking or a porn star.”

[Troy]

Excellent shots Paul, you've managed to capture the flame very well. Also great to see a little background behind one of these inspirational people.

I know one of the local people running with it down in Bournemouth, a tramplinist who is still very young and competes at a national level.