These are a sampling of Thursday's torchbearers and their stories:
Pat Foulger, 52, Ogden, is a registered nurse at McKay-Dee hospital in Logan. Her lab is going to shut down Thursday to watch her run. She works full time in the hospital and until the past week, cared for her husband who had been in a wheelchair. He passed away last week. Foulger said that she is running for her eight children, 30 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren. "I want them to see Grandma doing something special," Foulger said. "It's quite the opportunity. The idea that I'm the only person in the whole world carrying the flame at the one specific moment is incredible to me."
Bill Marolt, 58, Park City, is an avid skier and a powerful presence in the ski world scene. He competed in the 1964 Olympics in alpine skiing, finishing a disappointing 12th place behind two teammates who won medals. However, he became a successful ski coach at the University of Colorado, leading teams to seven straight national championships in nordic and alpine skiing. He is CEO and president of the U.S. Ski Team and oversees alpine, nordic, snowboard and disabled skiing.
Jake Garn, 69, Salt Lake City, was mayor of Salt Lake City in the 1970s when the city made an unsuccessful bid to host the 1976 Winter Games. "To see the Games actually come, I'm very pleased and very proud," Garn said. He believes that it is important continue on with the Olympics, particularly in light of the war against terrorism. "With my run, I hope to thumb my nose at Osama bin Laden," he said.
Jill Currie, 32, Park City, spends her days teaching pre-kindergarten children how to ski in Deer Valley. Her husband, Steven, nominated her for the work she has done the past seven years to inspire children to learn. "I sometimes go to her classes, and she makes children want to learn and that's because she is an amazing teacher," Steven said. Jill Currie said she's "carrying the torch for the teachers of the world who teach because they love children so much."
Jon Huntsman Sr., 64, Salt Lake City, has become a household name for philanthropic endeavors in Utah. He donated $1 million to the Paralympics and raised large out-of-state donations for the Olympics. "I think it's a great honor to be part of the Olympics," Huntsman said.