She Never Gave Up

Doctors told Claire Lomas she would never walk again.

A horse riding accident left her paralyzed from the waist down, but instead of lamenting over her losses, Lomas decided to focus on attainable goals one step at a time. She had to relearn simple tasks like making tea and use a wheelchair to get around.

“I’d have good and bad days where I couldn’t get out of bed,” she says. “I could wet myself up to five times a day and it could take hours just to get dressed because it meant moving my body into the right position.”

Three months after her accident she was back on her horse and a year after, she met the love of her life. Falling in love and having a child inspired Lomas to tackle her next challenge – the London Marathon.

She discovered a robotic walking suit and spent 12 weeks learning how to use it properly in order to finish the 26.2-mile course on two legs.

It took Lomas 16 days to finish the London Marathon, and she raised $275,940 for spinal research.

“It was so tiring. I would start at 9am and finish at 5pm with a few breaks. But each step I took – no matter how agonizing – I knew would bring me closer to the finish line. I didn’t want to give up.”