Torch (continued) Waxahachie Daily Light December 9, 2001

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will also help carry the Olympic flame.
     "I'll get to carry it first, then hand it off to Justin," Paul explained.
     The O'Rears will each carry the torch a few blocks as it travels down University Boulevard in Downtown Fort Worth.
     Paul will carry the torch from the intersection of University and 7th Street, handing it off to Justin at the intersection of University and 4th Street. Justin will then carry it to the intersection of University and Wingate.
     "They told us that I will receive the handoff about 9:30 a.m., give or take 10 minutes, depending on how the other runners are doing," Paul said. "If anyone would like to come and watch, probably the best place to be is the intersection of University and 4th Street," he said.
     Like Justin, Paul said having the opportunity to carry the torch is a way to honor the memory of Ashley.
     "In her 14 years, she did so much good, so many positive things before she passed away," he said. "We know that she's not suffering anymore. We know she's in a special place with Jesus, but it's still hard not having her with us."
     Like the Olympic flame, Paul said Ashley's light will never be extinguished. "She left us with so many wonderful memories to hold on to. They bring us smiles and laughs, and it helps to balance the pain.
     "I think it's always going to hurt," he said. "But she brought us so many memories that make us smile -- she gave us that. That helps. The pain is there, but the memories help balance it out."
     Paul said the family is doing OK, although times have been tough.
     "We're a family, and we are going on together," he said. "I know there's going to be tough times ahead. I've already thought about three years from now when Ashley was supposed to graduate from high school.
     "It's going to be tough. We've become very close with a lot of her friends over the years. We've watched them grow up and we want to be there for them when they walk across the stage to get their diploma.
     "But it's going to be hard watching them, knowing that Ashley should be there, too," he said. "There's going to be a lot of moments like that ahead. We're just going to have to take one day at a time, one moment at a time and get through it.
     "Ashley never once gave up during her battle with cancer. She never lost hope," Paul said. "As difficult as this time is for all of us, we find strength through the example she set for us to follow.
     "We will never forget that," he said.
     As far as family and friends are concerned, Ashley's torch is still burning brightly.
      It's a light, they said, that will never grow dim.

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