IT IS often easy to complain about teenagers and their behaviour but Aylesbury can boast one brave 15 year old who must surely defy any grumpy middle-aged critic.
Amie Ing, of Park Street, has been chosen to represent Bucks as a torch bearer for the Olympic Games this summer.
Amie, who is studying for GCSEs at the Grange School, Aylesbury, was diagnosed with cancer in one leg in 2007. Since then she has undergone major surgery and radiotherapy at the John Radcliffe hospital in Oxford and consequently has missed a great deal of school.
As if this wasn’t bad enough, when Amie’s leg bone failed to heal properly, it broke and an operation last year that was aimed at repairing it proved unsuccessful.
An infection set in and Amie now walks with the aid of crutches and also uses a wheelchair.
Amie’s courage and perseverance in the face of such adversity impressed her social worker, who nominated her as a torch bearer.
Amie will carry her torch through Bicester on July 9.
“It is really good to have been given this honour,” said Amie.
“My family and friends are really pleased.”
Amie, who said her favourite subject is English, hopes to train to be a physiotherapist.
“The physios were so nice to me when I was in hospital.”
Amie said that her parents and sister are very pleased for her and plan to be watching her from the sidelines on July 9, as do several of Amie’s friends.
“My best friend Emma has been really supportive throughout my treatment and will be there to cheer me on on the day.
“I will remember this day for the rest of my life.”
Amie’s headteacher Vince Murray said: “Amie is a lovely girl, fully deserving of the honour of bearing an Olympic torch.
“She has been through a lot in a short period of time but regardless of her health, she always greets us with a smile in school.
“She is gracious, charming and gets on with things.”
