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Pride in Peterborough Awards 2011: Child Achiever of the Year
Winner of the Child Achievement of the Year award, Leo Waites, with Tricia Penrose and a representative from category sponsor The Broadway Theatre. (METP-28-04-11AS170 - peterboroughtoday.co.uk/photosales)
Winner: Leo Waites. Runners-up: Joshua Krstonosic and Callum Dalliday.
Child Achiever of the Year Award, sponsored by the Broadway Theatre
FOUR-year-old Leo became a regular in the ET last year as readers helped to raise an astonishing £42,000 for him to undergo specialist surgery in America.
Leo has cerebral palsy, which leads to a tightness in his legs and painful cramps. The aim of the operation was to reduce spasticity in Leo’s legs and make it easier to increase strength. Despite all his operations and therapy Leo has realised the dream that comes so easily to many - he can now walk.
Mum Joanne Holland said: “Words can’t describe how grateful I am to The ET and the people of Peterborough. The first time I saw him walk was really emotional because I never thought that I would see the day.
“It’s early days and we’re going to gradually build him up, but we’re so happy. This is Leo’s dream.”
Speaking to the ET after the ceremony, Joanne said: “Leo was ecstatic and hardly slept at all the night after the awards.
“I am so proud of him, I can’t explain it. Lots of people who had never met him said they had read about him in the ET. T
“There were a lot of very special people there. It was great that he was recognised.”
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Thursday 24 May 2012
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