Daughter of tragic PC David Rathband carries Olympic torch blindfolded in poignant tribute to her father公仔箱論壇/ i5 w( r0 Q" m& ~3 M6 _
By Daily Mail Reporter
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The teenage daughter of tragic PC David Rathband carried the Olympic torch while blindfolded todayas she walked the relay leg in South Tyneside.
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Mia, 13, asked to take the place of David, 43, who – blinded by gunman Raoul Moat in 2010 – was found hanged in February after struggling to come to terms with his disability.+ P7 I7 \; D$ y$ k
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The teenager was cheered by hundreds as she completed the Whitburn leg in South Tyneside of the torch’s journey around Britain., M. e: k7 j+ y- `4 t$ H
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She walked with her eyes covered by a black blindfold in South Tyneside at just before 9am. Her mother Kath, 42, said her late husband would have been 'proud' of his daughter.$ @" T8 ?& W& j7 w) Z# X( L9 _
9 D, B4 w, l; H3 z1 A1 owww2.tvboxnow.comBefore his death, PC Rathband had been nominated to bear the Olympic torch in the North East. Mia was escorted by a member of the Metropolitan Police as she walked through South Tyneside and was cheered on by hundreds of people.
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PC Rathband was praised for his outstanding bravery and despite his disability, the 44-year-old fought to rebuild his life and set up a charity, the Blue Lamp Foundation, which helps emergency services personnel injured in the line of duty.
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2 D4 `/ J) t7 G, m* ~1 Q ROn February 29 this year, he was found hanged in his home in Blyth, Northumberland, after concerns were raised about his safety.公仔箱論壇' ~: T& l; h9 T; d: b/ P
- U6 i; |( J- Z: t; V& btvb now,tvbnow,bttvbHe left behind daughter Mia, son Ash, 19, and wife Kath, 42. Kath Rathband said: 'It means so much to Mia and the family that she's been given this opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch in her Dad's place.
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'It was a great honour for David to be nominated as a Torch Bearer by so many people and to be selected. I know he would be very proud to see his Mia carry the Torch on his behalf this Saturday.'5 v& {: z% m: |, J! y1 i
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) }% ^! w6 L0 g) m. u. k2 ?公仔箱論壇Mia Rathband, daughter of PC David Rathband, carrying the Olympic Flame whilst blindfolded on the Torch Relay leg between Whitburn and Sunderland in honour of her father( m( G9 F `3 F: i) s
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In October 2010, PC Rathband set up a sponsored walk for 200 people where participants were blindfolded so they could experience what it is like to be without sight.
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Gunman Roaul Moat shot his former girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and murdered her new boyfriend Christopher Brown, 29, in Birtley, Gateshead, before blinding PC Rathband, 43, as he sat in his patrol car. 6 B/ g4 Q3 B5 e) n, x
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The rampage sparked a week long manhunt which ended when the 37-year-old shot himself in July 2010. # K) X, e& s. [$ N& ~/ J+ }2 O# |2 e
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Mia Rathband, 13, pictured here with her father PC David Rathband who was blinded by gunman Raoul Moat
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Mia poses for a photograph with brother Ash and proud mum Kath after running blindfolded through the streets of Whitburn, South Tyneside
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World Cup football legend Jackie Charlton wiped away tears of pride as he carried the Olympic torch through Newcastle yesterday.www2.tvboxnow.com, y4 M+ I5 |+ l9 K
The 77-year-old was overcome with emotion as he held the flame just months after undergoing a hip replacement following a fall at his home in Morpeth, Northumberland.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb6 v& S; M/ B- ]) h4 B* ^; P
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Charlton waved at cheering crowds who chanted “Haway Jackie” as he walked through Newcastle city centre.
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The one-time no-nonsense centre half, he said: 'My health is getting better by the minute. My hip still bothers me but I can go up steps and I can walk fast. I am getting it working after a long, long time.'
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) c- ]$ b0 f. ztvb now,tvbnow,bttvbEmotional: World Cup winner Jackie Charlton wipes away a tear as he proudly carries the Olympic torch through Newcastle City centre公仔箱論壇. C9 W; O& l- G' e7 f6 W; d% i
# j9 L1 w$ i' v- {/ u% _2 KCharlton played alongside his brother Sir Bobby, 74, in the 1966 England side that beat West Germany 4-2. He was a central figure in Leeds United's title-winning teams of the 1970s.www2.tvboxnow.com. M" [4 P* A3 ~5 o! Q7 o& E
4 K$ {0 q! J, N: I. |% BHe managed Ireland in two World Cups, having been boss of Newcastle United, Sheffield Wednesday and Middlesbrough.
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+ s3 w7 T; T2 p& kTVBNOW 含有熱門話題,最新最快電視,軟體,遊戲,電影,動漫及日常生活及興趣交流等資訊。Born in Ashington, Northumberland, he remains popular in Newcastle, saying: 'Every 10th person comes up to me and says 'Hiya Jack'.
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) `! o- b5 G8 e( a5 rCharlton was one of 141 carriers taking the Olympic torch from Alnwick, Northumberland, to Newcastle.www2.tvboxnow.com% Q1 Y8 Q, S2 H9 Z1 H
% C# s f/ q( B0 P* k7 A' \公仔箱論壇Later in the day TV adventurer Bear Grylls carried the torch across the Tyne Bridge in a daring zip wire slide.
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' k" n- K3 w( n C$ M* s0 L" {公仔箱論壇Flaming hero: Bear Grylls zip wires along the Tyne Bridge in front of thousands lining the river while carrying the torch in his right hand
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Daring: Bear Grylls celebrates his spectacular zip wire slide across the Tyne Bridge with scouts and navy ratings during the Olympic Torch relay through Newcastle
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a: r0 S N( E" A; m- PWith the Olympic rings attached to the bridge, Grylls, 38, completed a 400 metre slide from the top of the 195ft arch with fireworks exploding in celebration.公仔箱論壇, |$ x( L" f% Y+ R6 I
; r: s' }8 |% g; i. q公仔箱論壇Grylls said: 'I was kind of worried about the torch going out but it stayed alight. It was amazing. I was a bit nervous about rope and fire but it was fine and we are in one piece.'公仔箱論壇) |# {- q: w; y- v! |4 i9 W i! C
2 O$ l4 e) Q- U d' g& l" M& mtvb now,tvbnow,bttvb'I think you're not human if you're not nervous when you're standing 200ft up and it's blowing you around a little bit. It's a long drop. They said the torch had been tested in a wind tunnel but you don't really know.
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/ [5 } h7 ^2 H& k" R- X公仔箱論壇'A wind tunnel's one thing but the Tyne Bridge when it's a bit blowy is a different thing. It's still alight, we're alive and I'm super proud to have carried the torch.'7 M* s' }' R) I9 g( r2 I
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He told the Daily Mirror he felt part of something special and described the Olympics being about 'the spirit of endeavour'. 'You sense it when you come and do something like this and hear those crowds, ' he said. ' I'm very proud.'
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After his feat, Grylls - appointed Chief Scout almost three years ago - was greeted by scouts and navy ratings.tvb now,tvbnow,bttvb3 k/ ^/ e& k3 f- z6 U
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( ?0 n# ^4 F: XTorch bearer: The Olympic flame is carried down the iconic Sage Building in Gateshead today in front of the Tyne Bridge by an abseiler |