This story was originally published in the Playa Times in Playa de Carmen Mexico on April 16, 2015.
Leslie Early
amazing BY SUE URQUHART
A
MAZING – this is the one word that describes Leslie Early. By the time they are over 65, most seniors have already experienced new athletic challenges. A few may introduce modified sports but not many seniors with physical challenges begin a new athletic pursuit in their golden years, let alone in two sports. Except Leslie Early, a remarkable woman, who at age 68, has started scuba diving and stand up paddle boarding. But what is even more remarkable is that Leslie has only one leg. She gets around via wheelchair, her artificial leg and/or a walker. Now she has two other modes of transportation, above and below the water. When 53 Leslie was skiing and realized something was terribly wrong with her left leg. Tests resulted in a diagnosis of nerve disease, but it wasn’t until years later that she was told she had cancer of the leg tissue and the survival rate was poor. She needed her leg amputated. That was fifteen years ago, and for Leslie the biggest challenge was realizing that she could no longer do everything. Always an athletic person, in her early years while at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon campus Leslie played both basketball and volleyball. At only 5’2” you know she must have been fast, and indeed her nickname was Gunner Les. Never married, Leslie’s independence has led to her strength as a woman and the ability to do practically anything. She owns and operates the Hummingbird Cabins and Breakfast near Fauquier BC. With the
40 OKANAGAN WOMAN SUMMER | 2015
LESLIE EARLY DOESN’T LET ANYTHING SLOW HER DOWN. PHOTO SUPPLIED.