Littlehampton’s Steph picked for Olympic torch parade

Steph Blondell, 18, of Parkside Avenue, is preparing to tackle a 300m stretch through Chichester, on July 16, after she was nominated by her grandmother to be a torchbearer, last year.

A-level student Steph, who is studying chemistry, biology and statistics at Worthing College, said she was overwhelmed when she heard the news.

She said: “I’m so proud to be chosen from the thousands of other people who were nominated. I really didn’t expect it.

“It’s pretty daunting, to think that I will actually be taking part in an event as huge as this. But I’m really looking forward to it and can’t wait to take part.”

Steph was nominated by her gran, Deidre Durrell – who also lives in Littlehampton – because of her “altruistic” and “caring” attitude towards others.

Steph’s overjoyed mum Adrienne said that she could not contain her pride. “Steph has always shown a selfless concern for others. She is always there to brighten the lives of everyone she meets, so it’s so lovely that she has been rewarded for all the hard work.

“Words cannot describe how proud I am to be Steph’s mum. She is the most wonderful, loving, daughter a mother could have ever asked for.”

Although in the middle of her hectic, and often stressful, A-level revision, Steph still finds time to volunteer at the Arun Youth Aqua Centre, in Littlehampton, as an instructor.

She is also a passionate dancer and has been attending the Sparkles Variety Group, in Lineside Way, Wick, for more than a year.

Adrienne added that Steph was also a very modest girl.

“She isn’t the kind of person who tends to boast about her achievements,” she said. “But she will always put others before herself.”

Steph now hopes to go on to read pharmaceutical studies at Nottingham Trent University, after completing her exams and her Olympic run, later this year.

n The Gazette will be running a special feature about more of the area’s torchbearers, next week (Thursday, April 12).

If you are carrying the torch, or know someone from the area who is, contact us on 01903 714135 or e-mail [email protected]