Raizada salutes 'incredible' Olympic Torch selection

By Ryan Bangs, Sportsbeat

DAVID Raizada has spent the past six years dedicating his spare time to the kids of Barlborough but he admits his prize of carrying the Olympic flame came as a total shock to him.

HONOURED: David Raizada is one of only 8,000 people that have been chosen to carry the Olympic Torch

Raizada has been named as one of only 8,000 people to carry the Olympic Torch next year for his work at The Youth of Barlborough Club, which he set up back in 2005.

The 59-year-old, who was put forward for nomination by co-worker Paul Brown, has seen a total of over 500 eight to 16-year-olds attend the club on a Wednesday evening during term time.

Raizada also donated a kidney to his sister, Sheila, ten years ago and admitted he didn't even contemplate that he would be chosen to run with the London 2012 Olympic Flame.

"I knew I had been nominated because I was asked for my permission to allow it but still this news is a big, big shock," said Raizada - who works for Sodexo Property Solutions in Leeds.

"It got to the point where my kids had left home, their university fees were all paid off and my mortgage was all paid off and I wanted to do something to serve the community.

"And I didn't imagine the club would be as popular as it has turned out to be but it isn't just down to me there are a lot of volunteers involved and they deserve to be mentioned too.

"I always said I would get my reward in heaven - there is no monetary value in it for me and I don't do it for recognition - I just wanted to serve the community."

His responsibilities don't stop there - he is also the chairman of the Clowne and Barlborough Sports Action Group, which promotes all age sports participation across the community.

Raizada's attentions are also currently on helping to raise money for the refurbishment of the chapel hall in Barlborough and he doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

"We are close to our target and it will be great to refurbish the hall and make sure it has fully working disability access," he added.

"And people must have known about the news before it came out as there was a TV crew at the club and all the kids picked up on that so I can imagine people knew."

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(c) Sportsbeat 2011