Author Description

The Torch Bearer is an incredible story of survival and resilience, in the face of a life-threatening illness. Elewechi paints a vivid picture of how shocked she was when she woke up one morning and found a lump in her breast, and the drama that unfolded. Prior to the breast cancer diagnosis, Elewechi rejected an opportunity to be one of the Torch Bearers to carry the Olympic Torch, as part of the preparations for the London 2012 Olympics. She shares how she had researched the history behind the games and why she chose not to be a Torch Bearer in this instance. While she was musing over how on earth she could have missed such a once in a life-time opportunity to be part of history, as an Olympic Torch Bearer, she suddenly found herself facing a life-threatening illness (cancer), which is a disease that most people would rather not want to be associated with. Everyone dreads the thought of being diagnosed with cancer. To make matters worse, in Elewechi's case, it was not the type of cancer that was common. Her case was further published in a medical research journal (referred to in the book). So, how do you shine your light, in other words, carry your torch for all to see (like an Olympic Torch Bearer), in the face of a life-threatening disease? Appropriately, The Torch Bearer was birthed out of the great opportunity that was missed to be an Olympic Torch Bearer. But through the experiences shared in the book, Elewechi helps the reader to appreciate the importance and the significance of being 'Torch Bearers' even in the most difficult and dark places in life. She draws attention to the fact that our ability to shine our light at such times has a higher level impact than carrying the physical Olympic Torch. In this unique and moving book, The Torch Bearer, Elewechi takes the reader through a private and daunting journey, which many make but almost always remains unspoken. She provides a detailed account of her 'journey' from the moment she discovered the lump in her