Lorraine Mercer

{{short description|British thalidomide survivor and painter}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}

File:Lorraine Mercer MBE.jpg

Lorraine Mercer {{Post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} is a British thalidomide survivor, painter, lace maker, and carriage driver with the RDA.

Mercer was a representative of the global thalidomide community as a bearer of the Olympic Torch in 2012 for her country.{{Cite news|title='No limbs? No Limits!' says Olympic torchbearer Lorraine|newspaper=Mid Sussex Times|date=5 July 2012|url=http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/no-limbs-no-limits-says-olympic-torchbearer-lorraine-1-4020779|access-date=27 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304115816/https://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/no-limbs-no-limits-says-olympic-torchbearer-lorraine-1-4020779|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}{{Cite news|last=Tamplin|first=Harley|title=Mid Sussex residents honoured by Queen|newspaper=Mid Sussex Times|date=12 June 2015|url=http://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/mid-sussex-residents-honoured-by-queen-1-6795898|access-date=27 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304083416/https://www.midsussextimes.co.uk/news/local/mid-sussex-residents-honoured-by-queen-1-6795898|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}} Her chariot was adapted to carry the Olympic torch safely above her head away from the oxygen she needs.

In 2015, Mercer received an MBE for community services with the lonely at the local hospital in Mid Sussex.{{Cite news|last=Imms|first=Adrian|title=Outstanding members of the community on the Queen's Birthday list|newspaper=The Argus|date=13 June 2015|url=http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/13330154.Outstanding_members_of_the_community_on_the_Queen___s_Birthday_list/|access-date=27 December 2015}}