We were so lucky to have Leanne McLennan join us this year on our annual Bali Retreat.

Lee has a couple of conditions called Cerebellum Ataxia and Cyclic Vomiting which can trigger anxiety and other issues.

Cerebellum Ataxia affects Lee’s nerves and muscles, similarly to a Motor Neurone or Cerebral Palsy condition that others suffer from.

This condition started affecting Lee at the age of 13 and since this time she has been in a Wheelchair.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is characterised by episodes of severe vomiting that have no apparent cause. Episodes can last for hours or days and alternate with symptom free periods.

Lee is a regular at PT Fitness where she has been working on getting stronger with her favourite Trainer and Support Worker, Hannah Pole.

The best thing about Lee is she is just so positive. She wants to do as much as she can and leaves no stone unturned trying to do so. If she tries and fails she quite often just has a laugh and wonders “what’s next?”

Here’s Lee’s story of her trip in her own words -

“Going to Bali Was nerve wrecking for me to start with as I was worried I would get anxious and my stomach sickness would start but when I got over there, everything changed for me.

I want to start off by saying if you’re going to do this, doing it with the PT Fitness Family Retreat is such an awesome way to do this.

I was so lucky that Hannah from PT Fitness was able to make the trip over with me and I can’t thank her enough for helping me enjoy this trip so much.

My week was not easy as I am in a wheelchair and require assistance especially on uneven surfaces. As you can imagine Bali is not an easily accessible place for a wheelchair but Hannah and I tackled it together. I won’t say it was easy but we did it.

I had an accessible bathroom in my Villa at the Legian Beach Resort which made it easy to start each day. We also had an elevator to help us get to the Buffet Breakfast every morning.

I participated in as many activities as I could. There were times when I needed a rest and other times when I chose to do my own thing. 

We did so many activities in only a few days. 

We had a dinner on the Beach on Night One with a Balinese Dancer. I had a photo with her and Nic and Hannah helped me walk to the water where I got some photos while the sun was setting.

I went to an orphanage where I absolutely loved hearing some of the stories of the children and the children loved pushing me around in the wheelchair.

I worked with my team members to make a 12 course Balinese Buffet at the Chef Bagus Cooking School and then we got to eat it together.

Some of the other activities we did -

We did Batik Art which involved drawing with wax on a canvas and then painting it. 

I made a silver ring from absolute scratch with a purple stone in it in a Balinese Jewellery Class.

I played in the ocean on a boogie board with the help of other women.

I got a tattoo 

I got my hair done.

We went to a local Drag Show which was a big night (I may have had a couple of drinks) and I danced with the stars of the show.

Our entire group enjoyed our last night at Finns Beach Club which was great fun. We had a VIP Cabana with Couches, a Private Pool, our own Waitress, Private Changerooms and one of the best views in the Club. I swam in the pool and danced with my fellow colleagues .

I attended many drinks and dinners on the beach which was awesome. My way of getting down on the beach was with the help of the local Balinese guys who carried the wheelchair over the sand and placing it on the sand where we were sitting so I could join in with everyone as I couldn’t get sand in my castor wheels as it would block them up and then I wouldn’t be able to wheel around.

I 100% enjoyed my week with my Pt Fitness Family and I made so many great friends. Obviously having a disability and being in a wheelchair means there are some obstacles but I felt the Balinese people were just so great helping my colleagues get me up and down stairs and into tricky areas so I could be included in everything I possibly could be….Nothing was too much”

I can’t wait to go again next year”