Scouts light the way for the Paralympics

Scouts lived up to their motto to “Be Prepared” as they lit the spark for the Paralympic Flame at the top of England’s highest mountain today.

The group of youngsters and two Scout leaders scaled the 978-metre summit of Scafell Pike in Cumbria, where they used a ferrocerium rod by striking it against a rough steel surface to create the sparks to light the special flame.

At the same time, flame-creating events were also taking place at the highest peaks in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and all will be used in lighting the flame for the Paralympic Games in London.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Scouts involved in the English leg of the event were from Cumbria and included David Harding, 17, from Bewcastle, Tom Usher, 16, from Inglewood, near Dalston, Peter Lumsden, 17, from Carlisle, and Rebecca Haslam, 21, from Penrith.

Scout leaders Tom Lawson, from Carlisle, and Geoff Price, leader at Bewcastle, were also taking part.

Their mission took six hours in all – setting off at dawn in relatively good weather. But at the summit in the midst of clouds the conditions were very different.

Mr Lawson said: “It went really well.

“It took a while to light the thing at the top – it was freezing cold and hail-stoning and raining because we were so high up.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Of course, being scouts, as the saying goes, we were prepared.”

Scout Usher said: “It was very challenging and very wet, but I enjoy fell walking.”

Scout Harding added: “It was challenging, but fun and adventurous. I feel privileged and excited to be part of it.”

The four individual flames will now be transferred to their respective capitals for a day of Paralympic celebrations.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From the Paralympic celebrations in the capitals, the national flames will be taken to Stoke Mandeville, the spiritual home of the Paralympic movement, where they will be united during a special ceremony on Tuesday to create the London 2012 Paralympic Flame.