In the North East, the Paralympics Flame Celebration will take place on Friday 24 August at Beamish, Living Museum of the North, in County Durham, from 5pm to 8pm.

Details of the venue can be found at www.beamish.org.uk. The celebration will host a Flame, lit from the nation’s Flame in London earlier that day, and will showcase disability sport projects from every local authority in the North East.

In the North East there was a public nomination campaign until 31 May to find a suitable disabled person to be part of the Flame collection ceremony. 

All nominations were entered into a draw made on 1 June by Dame Tanni Grey Thompson.

Lee Curry, a 25 year old the first Deaf Rugby League coach from Gateshead, was the successful nominee. Lee, Deaf himself, helps develop Rugby League with disability groups in the borough and his enthusiasm for his work sees him travel throughout the North East inspiring young children to become involved in sport whilst raising the profile of disability sport.

Lee’s nominator, Gateshead Council sport engagement officer Matthew Hinchley, said: “I nominated Lee for this honour because of what he has achieved so far. Lee has developed some great relationships with everyone he works with despite his disabilities.

The work he puts in is second to none and he fully deserves this opportunity to bring a splinter of the flame back to the North East.” Lee said: “I’m absolutely delighted to be given this once in a lifetime opportunity to represent the North East and to deliver the splinter English Flame to Beamish for the Flame Festival.

"Already excited about the London 2012 Paralympic Games, I am overwhelmed that I will now be participating in some way myself!  2012 is certainly going to be a year to remember for myself and my family.”

Lee will be accompanied by a North East Nations and Regions representative as well as Durham Police Officers to represent the region, going to London to collect and bring back the Flame to Beamish. 

Nominees that were not selected to go to London will however be invited to attend the Flame Celebration at Beamish museum on the 24 August.