Holy Cross' Olympic Torchbearers

Not many people get a chance in their lifetime to glimpse the Olympic torch, let alone run with it. Stephanie Collingwood '02, however, gets to do both. On Dec. 26, she will have the experience of a lifetime, acting as an Olympic Torch "Support Runner" and guiding the flame on its journey to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As one of 4,200 individuals who will accompany the Olympic torchbearers, Stephanie's role is to "support, encourage and assist the runner in finishing their segment safely." She must be prepared to assist the torchbearer both emotionally and physically, by pushing a wheelchair, guiding a visually impaired torchbearer - and even assist with holding the torch.

And assisting others is just what Stephanie does best. A survivor of depression, she devotes her time to helping other sufferers overcome this illness. "I help people going through depression to get the help and support they need. I know how it feels ... and I want people to know that they don't have to suffer. It can get better"

So Stephanie decided to become an Olympic Torch Support Runner to symbolize her triumph. "I saw running with the Olympic torch as a way of showing that I overcame my depression." In the spring she wrote an essay to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and was selected because of her inspirational spirit.

"It is just such an honor to run in the company of the Olympic torch, that it doesn't even matter if I physically hold it. Just as long as I'm there, that's all that's important to me."

The day after Christmas, Stephanie plans to drive up with her family from their home in Chantilly, Va., to Providence, R.I., where she will run with the flame. Representing the city of Worcester, Stephanie will run approximately two miles down Smith Street in Providence alongside the Olympic torch. She is scheduled to begin her run at 5:30 p.m.

"I'm really excited about running - what a Christmas present!"

Unlike the Olympic torchbearers, Stephanie will run a longer distance, equivalent to that of three torchbearers. She's been training for this run all semester, running on the track behind the Hart Center.

A former competitive swimmer, Stephanie has always enjoyed watching the Olympics on television. For this winter's games, she is most looking forward to the skiing competition. She plans to spend some of her winter break skiing with her family in New Hampshire.

Stephanie has one more semester left at Holy Cross, and will graduate an English major in May 2002. After taking a year off, she plans to follow in her father's footsteps and attend law school and eventually become an FBI agent.

The torch will travel approximately 13,500 miles across the U.S. in 65 days, carried by 11,500 torchbearers as it travels through 46 states. The relay ends on Feb. 8, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Also running with the Olympic torch are Holy Cross alumni Karen Ahern '80, Michael Casey '90, Schone Malliet '74 and Robert Warchol '94. Casey is the husband of the late Neilie Heffernan Casey '90, who was killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11.

Not many people get a chance in their lifetime to glimpse the Olympic torch, let alone run with it. Stephanie Collingwood '02, however, gets to do both. On Dec. 26, she will have the experience of a lifetime, acting as an Olympic Torch "Support Runner" and guiding the flame on its journey to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah.

As one of 4,200 individuals who will accompany the Olympic torchbearers, Stephanie's role is to "support, encourage and assist the runner in finishing their segment safely." She must be prepared to assist the torchbearer both emotionally and physically, by pushing a wheelchair, guiding a visually impaired torchbearer - and even assist with holding the torch.

And assisting others is just what Stephanie does best. A survivor of depression, she devotes her time to helping other sufferers overcome this illness. "I help people going through depression to get the help and support they need. I know how it feels ... and I want people to know that they don't have to suffer. It can get better"

So Stephanie decided to become an Olympic Torch Support Runner to symbolize her triumph. "I saw running with the Olympic torch as a way of showing that I overcame my depression." In the spring she wrote an essay to the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and was selected because of her inspirational spirit.

"It is just such an honor to run in the company of the Olympic torch, that it doesn't even matter if I physically hold it. Just as long as I'm there, that's all that's important to me."

The day after Christmas, Stephanie plans to drive up with her family from their home in Chantilly, Va., to Providence, R.I., where she will run with the flame. Representing the city of Worcester, Stephanie will run approximately two miles down Smith Street in Providence alongside the Olympic torch. She is scheduled to begin her run at 5:30 p.m.

"I'm really excited about running - what a Christmas present!"

Unlike the Olympic torchbearers, Stephanie will run a longer distance, equivalent to that of three torchbearers. She's been training for this run all semester, running on the track behind the Hart Center.

A former competitive swimmer, Stephanie has always enjoyed watching the Olympics on television. For this winter's games, she is most looking forward to the skiing competition. She plans to spend some of her winter break skiing with her family in New Hampshire.

Stephanie has one more semester left at Holy Cross, and will graduate an English major in May 2002. After taking a year off, she plans to follow in her father's footsteps and attend law school and eventually become an FBI agent.

The torch will travel approximately 13,500 miles across the U.S. in 65 days, carried by 11,500 torchbearers as it travels through 46 states. The relay ends on Feb. 8, 2002, in Salt Lake City, Utah, at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Also running with the Olympic torch are Holy Cross alumni Karen Ahern '80, Michael Casey '90, Schone Malliet '74 and Robert Warchol '94. Casey is the husband of the late Neilie Heffernan Casey '90, who was killed in the terrorist attacks on September 11.