Just A Step ‘Leanne’s Autobiography’

Just A Step ‘Leanne’s Autobiography’
RRP - £7.99

"I assumed when I first met Leanne that she had been in a car
accident, little did I know that she¹d had several tumours which
resulted in her having her leg amputated which was very sad - except I
was the one that was sad as she certainly wasn¹t. I wish her all the
best for a successful future." Des Lynam

For someone aged just 27 years to have enough material to write an
autobiography, they must be very special. Leanne Grose is very special.
She has turned a potentially devastating situation – a rare form of
tumour and the loss of a limb at the age of 20 – into a life full of
achievements and inspiration to others. Despite having her left leg
amputated and the resulting difficulties, Leanne has appeared on the
television programme, Jade's PA, and starred in her own exercise DVD
Leanne's Chair Workout which came about as a result of her own weight
gain after her illness. She went on to self-fund the making of this
unique DVD and set up her own website which made it’s mark worldwide
and resulted in letters flooding in from all over the world asking for
help and support.

Leanne comes from a big, loving family and had, in her own words: "a
great childhood." She grew up, had boyfriends, got a good job and did
everything a typical woman her age would enjoy until one night when she
suddenly collapsed in pain as her ankle gave way. Initially an innocent
sprain was suspected but it then became clear that the diagnosis was
far more serious. A tumour the size of a tennis ball was removed but
eventually part of her foot and left leg had to be amputated.

Leanne has not walked for four years and as further operations, weeks
of radiotherapy, pain treatment and rehabilitation followed Leanne
became less and less mobile. She needed modifications to the house to
help her cope and decided to organise events to raise the money. She
held a fashion show, which was a great success, and then organised
Leanne's Summer Ball – which was equally victorious.

Her next project was to organise and star in a DVD of exercises for
people of all abilities, whether in wheelchairs, suffering from illness
or those who simply wanted to work out sitting in their armchair – no
mean feat, but again, a task she pulled off triumphantly. Making the
DVD gave Leanne the taste for a life she always wanted and although she
knew nothing would bring back her leg she continues to fight to achieve
anything she sets her mind too and as well as helping others around the
world and to rid the taboo of amputation, she also dreams of becoming
the first woman to walk down the red carpet on one leg and crutches!
While working on her DVD, Leanne also appeared on Jade's PA, an
Apprentice-type show in which Big Brother star, Jade Goody, was looking
for a personal assistant. Leanne was very proud to be one of the last
to be evicted and truly believes ‘if you are handed lemons – make
lemonade’.

Written with refreshing honesty, Just A Step is a story of someone
with gritty determination, an incredible spirit and sheer zest for
life. Leanne Grose is an inspirational young woman. This is her amazing
story.

50p from every copy sold will be donated to Macmillan Cancer Support.