Former Emmerdale star Leah Bracknell has been writing an emotional 'cancer manifesto' after being given months to live over two years ago.
The 55-year-old actress is battling terminal lung cancer, and has already defied the odds. As a result of this, she’s been writing something she calls The Cancer Rebel’s Manifesto.
Speaking at a cancer awareness festival, Leah Bracknell told the audience about the decision to get writing: ‘I wrote The Cancer Rebel’s Manifesto for life as a reminder to myself what it takes to keep your head above water.
‘To thrive, and to keep on keepin’ on while living with cancer and defying expectation every single day.
‘Against the fear of cancer, against my prognosis, against pity from others and myself, against being diminished by cancer…
‘Against being defined by cancer, against restricted by cancer, against being bullied by cancer, and against death.”
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During the event, Leah was speaking to the general public, with fellow cancer survivors among them. She shared the powerful manifesto to share what she was embracing in life, despite the horrible illness she’s battling.
Leah went on to say: ‘I embrace every opportunity that cancer gives me to learn, to grow, to expand, I embrace the glass half full, I embrace healing, I embrace laughter, I embrace joy, I embrace hope…
‘And above all else I embrace life.”
Her heartbreaking manifesto ended as follows: “For I am a cancer rebel with a fierce heart, an independent mind, a warrior spirit, and an ocean of desire to keep on keeping on and making a difference and making a noise as long as there is sweet breath in my body.”
In October 2016, Leah Bracknell revealed her Stage 4 terminal lung cancer diagnosis, despite never being a smoker.
She has been documenting her experiences on her blog ‘Something Beginning With C”, which ‘embarks on a pilgrimage of healing, wholeness and gliding’, according to the website.
