khoji parkRobots · London, England · 2012
She Finished the London Marathon Sixteen Days After It Started
The charity campaigner used motorized orthotic legs to walk the 26.2-mile course.
Read in slides1. A Life-Changing Injury
Claire Lomas worked as an event rider and chiropractor in Leicestershire before a severe accident in May 2007. While competing at the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire, her horse threw her off into a tree collision. The impact resulted in punctured lungs, broken ribs, fractured vertebrae, and a spinal cord injury. Medical treatment at the spinal injuries unit confirmed paralysis from the chest down.
She adapted to using a wheelchair for daily mobility.
2. Introduction to the ReWalk Suit
Seeking ways to remain active and raise funds for medical research, Lomas encountered wearable robotic technology designed for paraplegic individuals. The ReWalk system utilizes motorized braces and tilt sensors to assist users in standing and walking. Acquiring the specialized device required extensive fundraising efforts, prompting Lomas to organize public campaigns. Donations and a charity calendar contributed toward purchasing the equipment.
Training sessions with the robotic suit commenced in early 2012.
3. Entering the London Marathon
Lomas registered to participate in the 2012 Virgin London Marathon to raise money for the charity Spinal Research. Due to the mechanical constraints of the robotic suit, she walked approximately two miles each day of the event. Official marathon rules required competitors to finish within a single day, meaning she was excluded from the official race results. Despite this administrative classification, she pressed forward along the public route.
Supporters accompanied her daily progress along the course.
4. Crossing the Finish Line
Lomas reached the end of the London Marathon route on May 8, 2012, having begun with the race in April. She used the powered suit and crutches to cover the distance over many days. The official timed event had already ended. Her arrival completed the route she had undertaken for her fundraising effort.
Finishing the route was separate from recording an official race time.
5. Public Recognition and Awards
The completion of the marathon brought widespread media attention to the capabilities of wearable assistive robotics. Lomas received multiple accolades later that year, including the Helen Rollason Award at the Sunday Times Sportswomen of the Year Awards. In August 2012, she carried the honor of lighting the Paralympic Cauldron in Trafalgar Square while wearing her robotic suit. Public visibility from these events amplified her ongoing advocacy for spinal injury research.
She continued undertaking physical endurance challenges in subsequent years.
6. Continued Fundraising and Challenges
Building on her marathon success, Lomas pursued further athletic challenges to support charitable causes. In 2013, she completed a 400-mile handbike journey across the United Kingdom from Nottingham to London. She also participated in the Great North Run and completed the Great South Run using assistive equipment. Her public speaking engagements focused on motivating others facing physical rehabilitation challenges.
She maintained active involvement with multiple disability charities.
7. Appointment as MBE
In recognition of her extensive charitable work and voluntary services to spinal injury research, Lomas was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2017 New Year Honours. Representatives from various spinal charities praised her dedication to improving support networks for paralyzed individuals. Her public profile helped direct attention toward technological advancements in mobility devices. She balanced her advocacy work with family life in Leicestershire.
Her fundraising contributions totaled nearly one million pounds over time.
8. Legacy of Assistive Advocacy
Lomas completed the London Marathon route in May 2012 after sixteen days using the powered ReWalk suit and crutches. The official race had finished much earlier, so her route completion was separate from an ordinary timed finisher’s result. The device required her operation and support; completing the distance did not mean the spinal injury had been cured or that she had regained unaided walking.
She completed the distance using the suit and crutches.