Ambassador for hope and survival
Local Motivational Speaker
Local Author, motivational speaker and mother of four from Julatten, Crystal Leonardi, reaches into the hearts of her audience by sharing her story of love and courage.
Being a mother of a young child with brain cancer, Ms Leonardi has faced many adversities and overcome mental health battles to become an advocate for hope.
“My new role as a motivational speaker was established after the success of my memoir Boy of Steel, published in September 2020,” she said. “The book is written as a dedication to my young son Sebastian, who was diagnosed with incurable brain cancer in 2020. Boy of Steel has anchored me as an ambassador for hope and survival.”
Now an experienced public speaker, she enjoys gracing the stages at many local events, sharing her story, motivating audiences to rise above adversity, and turning their tragedy into triumph.
At this weekend’s exclusive ELEVATE festival, Ms Leonardi will share the stage with fitness queen, television personality, and author, Michelle Bridges on Saturday May 14.
Author at heart
Boy of Steel continues to soar and establish itself as a movement, becoming an official Community Supporter of the Children’s Hospital Foundation last month. “For every copy sold $5 will be donated to the foundation,” Ms Leonardi said. “Boy of Steel has raised $970 for sick children since December 2021.
An author at heart, Ms Leonardi continues to write, with two new titles awaiting publication later in 2022.
“My upcoming publications include a children’s book aimed at siblings of sick children and dedicated to easing the burden on parents faced with explaining the serious illness to young children. The other is an interactive handbook aimed at writers wanting to commence a self-publishing project.”
Cairns ELEVATE will be held at the Cairns CrystalBrook Bailey Hotel from Friday May 13 to Tuesday May 17.