The olympic torch relay comes through Camden on thursday 26 July. One of our Camden torchbearers - Katharine Ford, describes her experience of being chosen as an Olympic torchbearer:

On the day Coca-Cola confirmed I would be a torchbearer, on the penultimate day of the Olympic torch relay in London, I was on top of the world.

Amazingly, where I will carry the Olympic flame is in the very borough where I feel on top of the city. Camden, is in fact, a favourite area of mine to explore and I love nothing more than to jump on my bike, grab some food from the many delis in the area and see where the day takes me.

my nomination

I feel so incredibly privileged that it was the sport that saved me - cycling, that was the reason behind my Olympic torchbearer nomination.

Since the age of three I have had epilepsy. I wasn’t diagnosed until I was 9 but continued to have (a dozen or so times a day), small conscious seizures of incredibly powerful, indescribable, non specific fear and full blown larger seizures two or three times a week. I was on a cocktail of drugs at the highest dose they could give me and it didn’t change a thing. But at the age of 14 there was a breakthrough - I was a strong candidate for major neurosurgery.

I had the surgery and became a Police Cadet in Glasgow City Centre, eventually going on to become a Constable. But then 5 years after my surgery I had another seizure and lost everything from my job to my driving licence.

cycling saved me

It was my cycling that saved me. It gave me back my sense of independence and identity and eventually took me across America, while studying my BA Sport at Durham University.

I became the youngest british female to officially complete the 3000 mile Race Across America with my 4 lady team, raising awareness of epilepsy in the process.

My cycling also led me to be appointed as the youngest trustee of the charity trying to save the last remaining finals venue from the London 1948 Olympics, the Herne Hill Velodrome.

Because of those two achievements I am now going to help carry the most sacred symbol in sport, the Olympic flame, to its destination in Stratford.

I can’t wait to cycle the torch relay route through Camden. But not before a long overdue trip to the best view in London, on the top of Primrose Hill!

come and watch me on the day!

Find out how you can watch the torch relay in Camden on 26 July.