Jillian Roberts’ passion to give back to the less fortunate sparked a once in a life-time opportunity to become an Olympic torchbearer in the 2012 London Olympic Games.

“You don’t have to be someone famous to make a difference and to do something incredible a like I did at the Olympics, “ she said.

She started a service project more than four years ago called Just Shoe it.

Will.i.am Carries Olympic Torch

Over the years she’s collected over 9,000 pairs of shoes and with the help of One World Running in Bolder Colorado. Her charity has provided shoes for people in need all over the world.

"It gives me goose bumps to think that someone is able to do that, said Robert's former art teacher Robin Clavan.

She was nominated through Coca-Cola, who sponsored 22 Americans to carry the torch in Britain.

Roberts says the design of the torch has a lot of meaning behind it.

London 2012 Olympics By the Numbers

“There's 8,000 holes which represents 8,000 torchbearers that carried the torch this Olympics and there’s three sides to it that represent the three times that the Olympic games have been in London, “ she said.

Roberts returned to the Mary and Dave Alper JCC Summer Camp in Kendall on Monday to share her experience with the campers.

Torch is Lit in Greece

“I’ve known Jillian for a long time since she was my camper when she was going into the first grade and it’s nice to see come back here as I did and she’s come back full circle," said Josh Clarin, her former camp counselor.

She gave everyone the chance to see and even hold the Olympic torch.
 

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