Mrs Westgate sold the torch to a collector in Guildford
An Oxfordshire Olympic torchbearer has raised over £4,000 for the mental health charity Mind by selling her torch on an online auction site.
Verity Westgate was given the spot on the Kidlington leg of the relay for her work supporting the charity.
She became involved after a close friend took her own life after battling depression, and has already raised £5,000 over the last three years.
She said: "I didn't think that I should just benefit from having the torch."
In 2009, Mrs Westgate took part in the Great North Swim.
A year later she swam 3.8km in Dorney Lake, where the Olympic rowing events will be held, and last year she swam a further 10km.
The torch was sold to a man in Guildford who celebrated his 50th birthday on the day Mrs Westgate ran with it through Kidlington.
She said: "He also has a torch from Sydney so he's obviously trying to build up a bit of a collection."
- Published21 May 2012
- Published20 May 2012
