On Tuesday 31^st July, the Inspire LeicesterShire 2012 Legacy Team visited two local charities with the London 1948 and London 2012 Olympic torches.

We visited Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People in Loughborough and LOROS in Leicester and was joined by local torchbearer Aarti C Thobhani from Leicester who shared her experiences with the patients and allowed them to get close to a piece of Olympic history and have their photographs taken with the torches.

Aarti said "Though I had been given the honour of carrying the Olympic Torch, I held the Torch high for those that have come into my life and for those that were not there to share this special moment with me. Those four minutes of running with the flame will last a lifetime in my heart and I can now share this experience with many others who were unable to watch or attend the relay by giving them the chance to hold and be photographed with the Torch and share my Torch bearing experience with them."

The London 1948 torch had been kindly loaned to us by Loughborough College, where it has been successfully used as part of Flames: Lighting the Way, an Olympic and Paralympic value driven programme, delivered by young leaders and centred on physical activity and health.

Both visits coincided with a series of activities the charities are doing to celebrate the Olympic Games. LOROS are hosting 'Olympic Week' at the Hospice on Groby Road where patients have been taking part in quizzes, Jenga and bowls. Rainbows Hospice children & young people have been busy making torches of their own and supporting Team GB in their own special way.

Inspire LeicesterShire 2012 Legacy Team enjoyed the visits saying "We have seen how the Olympic Torch Relay captured the imagination of local people when it came through the city and county in July. To give patients and staff at Rainbows Hospice & LOROS the opportunity to share in this experience was very humbling and deeply moving."

Julie Macauley, Family Liaison Officer at Rainbows said: "Everyone at Rainbows was so excited about the Olympics torches coming to Rainbows. The children were thrilled to have their pictures taken with them – it made a wonderful memory. I think we've got Olympics fever here. With Team GB based in Loughborough, we've been trying to spot our athletes for a few weeks now. Our very own Ranjan Saujani was a torchbearer and we took some of our children into town to watch as she carried the torch."

Simon Proffitt, Chief Executive at LOROS said "Seeing and holding an Olympic torch and talking with Aarti, one of the torchbearers, was a marvellous and unique experience for some of our patients and families and really raised their spirits. Some staff and volunteers also got involved and had their photos taken which I am sure they will cherish. Thanks go to Inspire Leicestershire and Aarti for making this a special day for us at the LOROS Hospice."

For more information, please contact the Inspire LeicesterShire 2012 Legacy Team at info@inspireleics.org.uk or call 01509 564877