Claire was a chiropractor and a top-level event rider when she collided with a tree whilst competing in 2007. She was left with a fractured neck, dislocated back, fractured ribs a punctured lung and pneumonia leaving her unable to do the things she loved. Paralysed from the chest down, Lomas was knocked back but still showed determination as she discharged herself from hospital after only eight weeks and embarked on a long period of rehabilitation.
Whilst recovering from her life-changing accident, Claire met the man who would later become her husband, gave birth to her daughter, found new sports in which she could participate in, such as hand cycling, and set up a fundraising business to raise money for Spinal Research and for equipment for her own rehabilitation, a British charity in which Claire is an ambassador for in their Saddle Up Campaign.
With her rehabilitation proving to be a success and her core strength improving, Lomas took her fundraising efforts to a new level and unprecedently walked the 32nd Virgin London Marathon. She finished after a total of 17 days aided by the ReWalk robotic suit and raised over £140,000 for Spinal Research. In recognition of her tremendous drive and determination, she received 14 medals from other marathon participants, she was also awarded the Virgin Trophy by Holly Branson.
Since heroicly completing the London Marathon, Claire was honoured to light the Paralympic Cauldron during the London 2012 Olympic Games, she has also participated in the Leicester marathon and set up her own running event in her home town known as the Melton Mowbray Half Marathon. Her most recent challenge involved a 400-mile cycle from Nottingham to London using a handbike.
In further recognition of her efforts, she won the Inspirational Fundraiser award at the Inspiration Awards for Women along with the Helen Rollason Award at The Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards in 2012 and being awarded an MBE in 2017.
An incredibly inspiring woman and athlete with an almost unequalled level of determination and resilience, Claire Lomas is an ideal inspirational speaker to encourage those faced with adversity and to motivate everyone to fight for positive change.
We recently conducted an exclusive interview with Claire Lomas, watch it over on our YouTube channel.
