Former eventer Claire Lomas has completed her challenge of walking a 10km charity race in one day.
Claire, who was paralysed from the chest down in a cross-country fall at Osberton in 2007, has raised more than £11,000 for charity by taking part in the Vitality London 10000.
The mother-of-one tweeted a video clip of her crossing the finishing line this afternoon with the caption “done it”.
Done it ???????? pic.twitter.com/qXEBEV95NY
— Claire Lomas MBE (@claire80lomas) May 30, 2016
Claire started walking at 5am today (30 May) and shared updates of her progress and supporters throughout the day.
She first planned to take part in the event in April, however, organisers rejected her entry on the grounds that her robotic walking suit contained a motor, which was against the rules of the event.
Claire told H&H at the time that she planned to take a map and walk the route anyway, even if the organisers would not let her in the starting area.
Last week they reversed their decision and gave her an “unofficial entry” to the event.
Her training had not gone quite to plan as her walking suit, named “Fred”, had been rubbing, meaning she could not do as much beforehand as she had hoped.
She was loaned a newer model of the ReWalk suit, which was smoother and had different straps that did not rub.
The money she has raised — over £10,000 more than her target — will go to the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation.
Related articles:
- Claire Lomas given entry to 10km race after organisers reverse decision
- Claire Lomas raises more than £500,000 in mission to cure paralysis
- Paralysed eventer Claire Lomas completes London Marathon
Since Claire started supporting the charity, she has raised more than £500,000.
“You know where every penny is going — exactly what it is being spent on,” she said.
“It is not just about walking, it is about getting your independence back.”
