By Staff
TORCH BEARER  Amy Lott of Meridian prepares for the ceremonial Torch Relay leading to the 2002 Olympic Winter Games. She will run with the torch for a quarter of a mile today in Biloxi as the flame is carried to Salt Lake City. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Fredie Carmichael/The Meridian Star
Dec. 9, 2001
Fighting through the pain of a debilitating disease has not dampened Amy Lott's enthusiasm for helping the ceremonial Olympic torch reach Salt Lake City.
At noon today, a quarter mile stretch of coastal highway becomes an avenue for the young Meridian woman's once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As her mother, father, three sisters and 91-year-old grandfather watch, Amy Lott will run with the flame in the ceremonial Torch Relay for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games as it passes through Biloxi.
Her mother, Terry Lott, shares her excitement.
Amy, a 1995 Meridian High School graduate, was selected by the Salt Lake Organizing Committee and presenting sponsors Chevrolet and Coca-Cola as one of 3,505 torch carriers from around the country to help carry and pass the Olympic Flame from Atlanta to Salt Lake City the site of the 2002 Olympic Games.
Amy Lott suffers from epilepsy and paroxysmal dystonia a muscle disorder that makes the major muscles in her body cramp up at the same time. She fights through the spasms on a daily basis.
Shawn Hampton, a teacher with the Petal School System in Hattiesburg, nominated Amy for the honor of carrying to torch after watching her deal with her spasms as a student at the University of Southern Mississippi.
As for Amy, she said she's just ready to run.
Lott graduated from USM last spring with a degree in biology and currently works at the Institute for Disability Studies in Hattiesburg.
Fredie Carmichael is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3228, or e-mail him at fcarmichael@themeridianstar.com.