Leigh Lennon and Alison Leonard, who are part of Dame Kelly Holmes’ mentor-ing and education initiative On Camp with Kelly, benefited from a fantastic opportunity to visit the London 2012 Olympic Park in Stratford. Lord Sebastian Coe, chair of the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, led a tour of the Olympic Stadium, the venue at which the athletes aspire to compete in two years time.

The On Camp with Kelly athletes were taken on a bus tour of the Olympic Park, taking in venues such as the Velodrome, Athletes’ Village and Aquatics Centre as well as the stadium tour with Seb Coe.

Along with Dame Kelly, he was able to provide a unique insight into competing and winning at an Olympic Games.

Leigh, who represents Ribble Valley Athletic Club and is from Accrington, said: “Being able to visit the London 2012 Olympic Stadium is a great honour and to go inside and see the whole thing is so inspirational and makes your goals feel like one day they are going to be reached. “We went behind the scenes at the stadium, which gave me a shiver down my spine as to me London 2012 would be a dream come true and has made me more determined now to want to be there on the start line.”

Blackburn Harrier Alison, from Chorley, said: “It was so inspiring to see where the track events will be held, you can imagine how it will be in 2012 with the crowd and the awesome atmosphere. “It makes you want to work harder so that you can try and be a part of it. We saw the Olympic Park as well and the whole area looks like it’s going to be amazing.”

Dame Kelly added: “The visit to the Olympic Park is a unique opportunity for them to gain an insight into what it will be like to compete here in two years time.”

l For more information about ‘On Camp with Kelly’ sponsored by Aviva, you can go online to www.oncampwithkelly.co.uk