When Pat Eaton carries the Olympic torch on part of its journey through the North West, she will be doing it for every disabled child and carer in the country.
Pat, from Fallowfield, was nominated to carry the torch after dedicating her life to looking after disabled children from across the city - despite having suffered from a stroke herself.
She has spent years working as a multi-link worker for Manchester City Council, providing short breaks for disabled children from across the city.
Pat said: "I want to do this for every parent or carer who has had a disabled child. I don't know who nominated me, but I'm not doing it for myself. I'm not the sort of person who likes being in the centre of attention."
The 49-year-old, who will carry the torch through Preston on June 23, looks after six severely disabled children aged between four and 15 who have a range of complex needs, including severe epilepsy, cerebral palsy and rare genetic conditions.
She looks after each of the children for three nights a month, enabling their parents or full-time carers to have time to themselves or to spend with other members of their families.
The children would previously have had to spend this time in residential care.
Pat has looked after the children for a long time - one for eight years - and so has built up close relationships with them and with their families.
The City Council has provided training to help Pat look after the children and even obtained funding to pay for a specially equipped extension in her home, enabling the children to stay there overnight.
Pat, who had previously been a foster parent and has four children and four grandchildren of her own, had worked as a nursing assistant at Birches Special School until 2007 when she suffered from a stroke.
It took her nine months to recover from this, after which she decided to become a full time carer.
She said: "Because of my past experience, I know what it's like to be vulnerable, so I've got a better understanding of the children's needs because I've been there myself.
"Caring for any child can be demanding, but caring for disabled children is extremely demanding, and this enables the parents to recharge their batteries - or to spend some time with the rest of their families even if it's just sitting down and having a pizza with them. I feel now that I've become part of the extended family of the children, which is really nice.
"I've got a great team from the City Council behind me, and I couldn't have done any of this without them. There's always advice and support available for me whenever I need it."
Cllr Afzal Khan, Manchester City Council's executive member for children's services, said: "Pat is an inspirational figure who has provided invaluable help for the families of disabled children from across Manchester and I'm proud that she'll be representing the city in the Olympics torch relay."
If you want to make a difference and find out more about providing short breaks for disabled children or fostering call 0800 988 8931 or visit www.manchester.gov.uk/fostering