AN EALING resident has beaten Usain Bolt to the Olympic track and claimed a bronze medal in a charity event.

Alison Verona, 23, of Geraldine Road, was given the chance to participate in a 100m race at the Olympic stadium last Sunday, as a result of her work for the charity Contact a Family.

She said: “The stadium was breathtaking. When I was stood on the track I felt so proud that we are holding the Olympics in our city. It’s probably the most nervous that I’ve felt in my life.”

She competed against other charity fundraisers in the race, which recognised people who had raised sponsorship money for a variety of charities through participating in Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Alison said: “I really wanted to get involved in a charity and I found Contact a Family were the most encompassing. They offer so much help to such a variety of people. There’s six of us and we have chosen five Olympic sports to learn for a minimum of three hours.”

Contact a Family offers help to families with disabled children and last year helped 340,000 of them access help.

Alison hopes to continue her fundraising efforts by participating in the London marathon.