A TEEN with the goal of one day competing at the Olympics begins her association with the games as the first torch relay runner at Kitsumkalum.
Sarah Peden, 13, was nominated by Charlotte Guno and then she wrote an essay.
“When I found out I was chosen I couldn’t believe it. I was honoured! she says about being chosen as a torchbearer.
Peden is involved in many sports including girls bantam hockey, basketball, badminton and soccer.
“I am very active in sports and love it,” she says.
Her part of the torch relay is to run on Hwy 16 from the Kalum River bridge to the House of Sim-ol-ghets parking lot by the totem poles, starting at about 3:13 p.m.
Peden says she’s been training at the gym.
“My long term goal is to one day participate in the Olympics for my country Canada!”
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THE SECOND torch relay runner in Kitsumkalum is a teen whose family nominated him for the spot.
Jordan Wesley, 17, says his family is very proud of him and believes it’s a great way for him to be part of the Olympics.
“I feel very privileged and honoured to have been chosen. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I am very excited to be a part of it,” he said.
He has been running “a bit” in preparation for his 300 metre run, which goes from the House of Sim-ol-ghets parking lot to the yellow house on West Kalum Road.
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A RESIDENT of Kitsumkalum is doing her leg of the torch relay near Hazelton Jan. 30.
Tracy Sam will run in Gitanmaax, from the community hall parking lot to house #1855 on Churchill St. Hwy 62 starting at about 9:19 p.m.
Her mom, Carol Sam, nominated her because she was proud of what her daughter had done.
Sam has an Associates of Arts degree from NWCC and is a Bachelor of Education student on her way to becoming an elementary school teacher.
“She liked that I had goals (to be a teacher) and that I was willing to put a lot of hard work to fulfill my goal,” said Sam about her mother’s nomination of her.
“When I found out that I was picked to be a torchbearer, I could hardly believe it...it is such a privilege to be a part of something so huge!
“After finding out, I was extremely happy, I have watched the Olympics my entire life and I remember when the announcement was made that Vancouver won the bid.”
She has been preparing on a treadmill at home and has practiced holding up a 3 lb weight for the distance.
“I feel that I am not doing this for selfish reasons, I will hold the torch for every person in my life and I will treasure my moment for the rest of my life,” she says.
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A YOUNG man from Kitsumkalum will be running his section of the torch relay in the Nass Valley Jan. 30.
Robert Munroe, who was nominated by Colleen Austin, his former teacher, is gearing up for his part of the relay by running.
“Pretty excited and shocked at the same time. It was pretty awesome,” he said about being told he was a torchbearer.
He will take the torch in New Aiyansh and run it from the Nisga’a Lisims Government building to the James Gosnell Memorial Health Centre in New Aiyansh at about 4:15 p.m.