DISABLED athlete Ben Fox is hoping to inspire hundreds of others as he prepares to carry the Olympic Torch through Royal Wootton Bassett.

The 16-year-old, of Westlea, has been selected by Coca-Cola to take part in the Olympic Torch Relay as one of their Future Flames.

As well as the relay, Ben will also feature in Coca-Cola’s national billboard advertising campaign alongside chart topper Eliza Dolittle, with his advert appearing in Bristol.

Ben was born with a catalogue of defects in his vital organs and limbs, due to an extremely rare condition called Vater syndrome.

When doctors examined Ben they found a host of problems which included - a blocked oesophagus, two missing vertebrae, no right leg, a third of muscle and bone missing from his hip, and a hole in his heart and lungs.

But after Ben attended a football a training game at Chelsea for disabled athletes, he has been inspired to compete in sport and now coaches other young disabled children across Swindon.

The Arsenal fan is also a keen wheelchair basketball player and plays for the Wolverhampton Rhinos team and the South West Scorpions, based in Bristol.

Ben has his sights set on getting a place in Great Britain’s wheelchair basketball team for the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, but before that he is excited about the prospect of being involved in this year’s event on May 23.

He said: “It is a great honour to be given this opportunity and I am really excited about it.

“I was on the bus when I found out but when I got home I was jumping about.

“I want to say a big thank you to everyone at Coca-Cola for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity to run with the Olympic Flame.”

Coca-Cola launched its Future Flames nomination campaign last summer, aiming to recognise and reward the positive contributions made by young people every day in the UK by giving them the opportunity to run with the Olympic Flame.

The nationwide campaign called on the country to nominate people who use their passions in areas like sport and physical activity, music and dance, and community and the environment to spread happiness in their local communities.

Ben was nominated by his parents Andy and Carol, who have said they are extremely proud of their son.

“I am so proud of what Ben has achieved despite what he has been through,” said Carol.

“We are all really excited about the day, it will be brilliant.

“It is something that will only happen once in our lifetime and to be able to say Ben was part of it is amazing.”

More information about the torch relay is available at www.london2012.com/olympictorchrelay