Largest gathering of wheelchair users on ice-world
record set by Leanne Grose
[Jan
19]CORNWALL, UK--Leanne
Grose, 26, joined 47 scores of other wheelchair users from
across the country to set the record for the largest gathering
of wheelchair users on ice.
Ms Leanne
Grose, who was first diagnosed in 2001 when a tumour was
discovered on her left foot, said: “There aren’t many opportunities
for people in wheelchairs to get involved in exercise and set world
records. “I wanted to do something which every wheelchair user could
join in with and have fun." (enlarge
photo)
Local government worker Ms Grose, from Truro,
Cornwall, said: “It was a fantastic event and everyone had an amazing
time. “I have spoken to children in their wheelchairs and heard
their stories, it was very humbling.”
Ms Grose's left leg was amputated below the knee
in 2002 and two years later more of the leg was amputated. She underwent
further surgery in 2006.
She organised the record bid to celebrate the
launch of her DVD - Leanne’s
Chair Workout - which was filmed at the Eden
Project.
Leanne
Grose, of Truro, Cornwall, has turned a potentially devastating
situation – a rare form of tumour and the loss of her left leg at
the age of 20 – into a life full of triumph in the face of adversity.
Miss Leanne
Grose was diagnosed with an aggressive and rare cancer of
her foot in 2001. He leg was amputated below the knee, but the cancer
returned and a second operation was necessary. A local government
officer, she underwent further constructive surgery in 2006.
Since the loss of her leg, Miss Grose started
to gain weight and soon realised she would need to develop new ways
of keeping fit and getting regular exercise. Last year, she decided
to self-fund the making of a DVD and set up her own website, which
made has already made its mark worldwide and resulted in letters
flooding in from all over the world asking for help and support.
Written with refreshing honesty, 'Just
A Step ' is Leanne's story highlighting her gritty determination,
an incredible spirit and a genuine zest for life.
Her autobiography serves as an inspiration
to everybody. Despite her amputation and the resulting difficulties,
Leanne has appeared on the television programme, Jade's PA, set
up her own website
and self-funded the making of the unique DVD, 'Leanne's
Chair Workout'.
With a £1,000 bank loan, she embarked on designing
a fitness programme for 'amputees, the elderly and the overweight',
and has produced a 90-minute DVD
featuring workouts for the whole body. It will sell for £15.99 at
HMV, Amazon, Asda and Tesco online and www.justastep.co.uk.
Determined to share her philosophy, she began
writing her story in May 2007 and the finished book, Just
A Step, published by Green Umbrella, is available from WH
Smith and Waterstones from Wednesday or direct from www.justastep.co.uk.
"My book is not a sob story," she said. "Amputation is definitely
not the end of the world."
