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A total of 98 batonbearers will take the Queen's Baton through East Ayrshire on Saturday 21 June. 

Notable athletes joining local batonbearers include Glasgow 2014 Team Scotland bowler Claire Johnston and Scotland’s most-capped and highest-scoring hockey player Rhona Simpson, who with three Commonwealth appearances is no stranger to the Games.

In Crosshouse, two Kilmarnock Amateur Weightlifting Club members will swap dumbbells for the baton as Georgina Black hands it over to Graeme Kane, not long before Commonwealth Games Silver medalist Peter Kirkbride rounds off the day's events by carrying the baton to the Evening Celebration.

View the complete list of East Ayrshire batonbearers

Meet your batonbearers

Find out more about some of the batonbearers running on 21 June. 

Gillian Johnstone

batonbearers Gillian Johnstone

Registered blind, dyslexic and hearing-impaired for most of her life, 16 year old Gillian Johnstone from Darvel is an immensely strong individual who has fought against all odds to be a success in athletics.

Never complaining about her disabilities, Gillian displays great courage and enthusiasm in everything she does, and perfectly illustrates the spirit and strength the Commonwealth Games legacy pursues. She secured a place with the Scottish Disability Sport national squad last year, and also won the East Ayrshire Disabled Sports Person of the Year Award. At the Sainsbury's 2013 UK School games Gillian was only one of four Scottish disabled athletes to be selected for the Scotland Athletics team.

Gillian will be running with the Queen’s baton in Mauchline.

Susan Russell

batonbearer Susan Russell

Susan Russell is a founder and stalwart of Young Kilmarnock - a community sports organisation based in Kilmarnock.

She gives so much of her spare time to assist coaches, fundraise and raise the profile of the organisation. On average, well in excess of 200 children attend each week for football coaching, with ages ranging from four to 16 years old. 

Along with her husband Bobby, she puts her heart and soul into making every child’s life improve both physically and mentally, and has left a positive impression on the parents who have passed through the club. She gives up her Saturday mornings to be at Powerleague and runs buses to away matches, organises Christmas parties and fundraisers, and as a result has become well-known and respected within the community. Their collective efforts helped Young Kilmarnock scoop West FM’S Contribution to the Community Award last year.

Susan will be running with the Queen’s baton in Kilmarnock.

Scott Martin

batonbearer Scott Martin

A committed member of Kilmarnock Harriers for several years, Scott Martin from Newmilns has taken on a miscellany of roles during that time. He gives up a lot of his own time to coach young athletes at the club, volunteers at club events, and on top of all this, he himself is a top athlete, representing Scotland on several occasions at cross country. He recently completed the Warsaw Marathon in less than two hours and 45 minutes, thanks to squeezing in plenty of training in between other duties with the club.

Scott says "I am massively honoured personally, but more so for my Club, friends, family, the local community, and especially my wee Mum who I know is looking forward to the day every bit as much as I am myself".

Scott will be running with the Queen’s baton in Mauchline.

Chelsea Keane

Batonbearer Chelsea Keane Chelsea Keane from New Cumnock is a shy individual who has grown in confidence week in, week-out, volunteering in primary pupils in East Ayrshire delivering sport and physical activity.  A hardworking character, she is willing to give up her free time to help get pupils more active, more often. She spends her own money to travel to and from the school to give others opportunities. Over the last couple of years, Chelsea has gained confidence to come out of her comfort zone in order to deliver new sports and help pupils accrue experiences in things they wouldn’t have thought of previously, with her nominees citing her hard work and dedication as "first class".

Chelsea says "I feel proud and privileged to be given this opportunity and excited to be a part of it".

Chelsea will be running with the Queen’s baton in New Cumnock.

Jim Young

batonbearer Jim Young Jim Young from Kilmarnock goes out running in all weather, be it rain, hail or shine, and voluntarily gives up his Tuesday and Thursday nights to help coach and encourage the athletes belonging to Kilmarnock Harriers. The fact he’s 80 years old and still partakes in athletics is incredible. He’s been a member of the running club for over six decades and is now KH’s Club President. He coaches athletes in ultra-distance running and supports them in competitions, pushing them to elite levels, and is a time keeper for Ayrshire based competitions, ensuring races run smoothly. Under his wing have been athletes who have gone on to represent Scotland and feature in many Commonwealth Games.

Jim will be running with the Queen’s baton in Crosshouse.

Peter Lee

batonbearer Peter Lee Peter Lee from Kilmarnock is aged 87. After surviving a triple bypass, he is grateful to have his life back and now runs in half-marathons collecting money for charities, primarily the British Heart Foundation. He is also a volunteer for Chest, Heart and Stroke charity. As well as this, he has raised funds, - partly through his own donations - to buy mobility aids for the disabled. Having appeared on the X Factor for BHF publicity, Peter then became judge for a school competition. He is an indomitable and generous role model for the community and won the Great Scot Award for his wonderful acts of charity.

Peter will be running with the Queen’s baton in Kilmarnock.

George Scott

batonbearer George Scott For charity work, George Scott from Cumnock is a formidable force; he has recently sky-dived, completed the London Marathon, the Edinburgh Marathon, Tough Mudder, Coast-To-Coast and finished off his fundraising events for Ayrshire Cancer Support by completing the Glasgow half-marathon. Never one to do anything by halves, George has thrown everything into his charity work and has subsequently raised thousands of pounds for cancer charities in the process.

George will be running with the Queen’s baton in Cumnock.

Kelsey Caldow

batonbearer Kelsey Caldow At 12 years old Kelsey Caldow from Kilmarnock first attended MEND, a class to promote healthy living and eating habits for children above their ideal weight. She’s been a perfect role model in the success that followed, and she now assists in the running of several programmes, promotes further interest by giving talks at meetings and events and volunteers at kids clubs. She joined East Ayrshire Council’s volunteer database, delivered a series of health and well-being speeches and presentations including the East Ayrshire Council Health Summit and the local rotary club. Now 17, and with over 1000 volunteering hours, she’s been a finalist for the EAC Young Volunteer Award and last year a finalist in the Health Category of the Young Scot Awards.

Kelsey will be running with the Queen’s baton in Stewarton.

Laura Robertson

batonbearer Laura Robertson For years Laura Robertson from Mauchline has been heavily-involved in fundraising for charities through voluntary work and sport activities; in 2009 she ran the New York Marathon, helping raise £14,000 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. With her enthusiasm and love for engineering, she visits primary and secondary schools, liaising with local colleges, promoting and advising on careers in engineering. An ideal role model, she recently won a UK citizenship award for her contribution to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) promotion in the community. She is set to raise money for the Ayrshire Hospice by cycling from London to Paris later this year.

Laura will be running with the Queen’s baton in Mauchline.

Alan Brown

Batonbearer Alan Brown Alan Brown from Dalrymple has given up his free time for years to teach children and adults – from all different backgrounds and abilities - taekwondo. He also voluntarily coaches his local school and village football team and has a major impact of the levels of physical activity within the area.

Taking part in the Tough Mudder, he has raised quite a bit of money for charity. An enthusiastic and very passionate character, he is a great role model for those interested in sport and physical activity.

Alan will be running with the Queen’s baton in Dalmellington.

Natasha Allen

batonbearer Natasha Allen Natasha Allen from Stewarton has made an excellent contribution to the lives of others in her local community by working on many interdisciplinary projects. She selflessly volunteers at a local residential home (Hamilton Gardens Sheltered Housing in Stewarton), and always is the life and soul of activities. Her visits are the highlight of all residents’ weeks. She also helps younger generations by volunteering at Explorer camps and meetings.

Natasha is also a dedicated athlete and represents her school and local clubs in national swimming and track events. In addition, she is dedicated to her academic study and thoroughly deserves this prestigious opportunity for her commitment to making other lives better. She has been nominated by several people and clubs including Kilmarnock Rotary Club, who say Natasha has been to the fore in driving the fundraising Interact Club.

Natasha will be running with the Queen’s baton in Stewarton.

Martin McLelland

batonbearer Martin McLelland At age 13 Martin McLelland from Auchinleck joined the East Ayrshire Council young volunteer database; at 15 he joined the EAC volunteer database. Now he volunteers all across the local authority, including community clubs, Early Grounds 4 Play, Playtimes events and he even supports the older community in local sheltered housing accommodation units.

Martin is an excellent peer mentor and role model, one who has accumulated over 160 volunteer hours. Martin has made a massive positive impact on the lives of many children and families, and was given the EAC Young Volunteer of the Year Award as a result.

Martin will be running with the Queen’s baton in Auchinleck.

Shaun Lowrie

Shaun Lowrie is an active member of his local community and has volunteered with local amateur dramatics society for several years as well as being a director for Cumnock Music Festival and Carnival for 11 years. Shaun spent last summer in Tanzania as a youth worker sharing knowledge and culture within primary and secondary schools. A keen fundraiser for charity, Shaun conquered Mount Kilimanjaro raising funds for Macmillan Cancer and ran the Edinburgh Half Marathon to raise funds for Breast Cancer Care.  I am a volunteer at the Commonwealth Games this year, overseeing venue management. I'm very much looking forward to continuing to play a part of my community and carrying the Baton on Saturday.

Shaun will be running with the Queen's baton in New Cumnock

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