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Kath Rathband: "It means so much"

"It means so much to Mia and the family that she's been given this opportunity to carry the Olympic Torch in her dad's place.

"It was a great honour for David to be nominated as a torch bearer by so many people and to be selected.

"I know he would be very proud to see his Mia carry the torch on his behalf this Saturday."

– PC Rathband's widow, Kath

Daughter of PC Rathband carries torch

Mia Rathband
Mia Rathband Credit: ITV

13-year-old Mia Rathband received the Olympic torch in Whitburn, South Tyneside, this morning. She is carrying the flame on the Gateshead to Durham leg of its tour of Britain. Mia is carrying the torch blindfolded in memory of her father, PC David Rathband, who was shot and blinded in 2010.

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