A Bradford Hospitals’ community heart nurse who goes the extra miles for his patients has been selected from 37,000 applicants to carry the Olympic Torch this summer.

David Lighten, 32, will join eight thousand people up and down the country helping to bring the London Games to life by participating in the Olympic Torch Relay on June 24.

David was secretly nominated by his accountant wife Chloe, also 32, who said David “always tries to make his patients’ lives a little bit happier by going the extra mile for them.” 

David, who works in community cardiac rehabilitation nurse throughout Bradford,  will carry the torch through Harehills, Leeds.

He said: “I was really touched that Chloe had nominated me because the first thing I knew about it was when I received a surprise parcel from Olympic sponsors, Coca Cola, congratulating me on my successful nomination which left me absolutely gobsmacked.

“I feel truly humbled to have been selected alongside some incredible people when you read about some of the really amazing things that other torchbearers have done.

“Now my only dilemma is do I sprint the 300m on June 24 or do I milk it for all that it is worth – that is a decision still to be taken but whatever happens I plan to enjoy every bit of the honour.”

Speaking about his work, David, from Bramley, added that he has never looked back since retraining as a nurse after leaving the army in 2004.

“I absolutely love coming into work every single day and I see my role as a community heart nurse as only part of my role.

“I see my job as not only there to provide medical advice to people who have suffered a heart attack, but for a lot of my patients who live by themselves, I try to also be a companion, provide help and advice on a number of problems they may have from helping with disability benefit forms to speaking to social services on their behalf.”

David’s other passion is sport and for the past four years he has been involved with community running club, Pudsey Pacers, where he enjoys encouraging others to join in on regular runs. Last month he completed his first London Marathon.

Each runner will carry the Torch for 300 metres and David will be able to keep his £200 torch which has been donated to him by Coca Cola.

The Torch arrived in the UK last Friday and will cover 8,000 miles before it arrives at the Olympic stadium for the opening of the Games on July 27.