From http://www.thisiskent.co.uk/Torchbearer-lights-day-Scalliwags/story-16602673-detail/story.html
A PADDOCK Wood Torchbearer who lost a leg to cancer has wowed local youngsters by visiting their school with the Olympic Flame.
Matt Short, of Goldfinch Close, displayed the iconic symbol to children at Scalliwags Pre-School last Thursday, following completion of a 300m stretch of a route from Hastings to Dover.
The 21-year-old law student was overjoyed a prosthetic limb had not prevented him from playing his part in history.
Mr Short said: “I’m a former Scallywags boy and my mum still works there, so I thought it would be nice to show the children the Torch. The kids were so excited to see what I had in my bag.”
The former Paddock Wood Primary School pupil was diagnosed in 2007 with Ewing’s sarcoma, an extremely rare form of bone cancer, and had to have his right leg amputated below the knee. Founder of the Ewing’s Sarcoma Research Trust, Mr Short said he had prepared for his distance with plenty of rest.
