Claire Lomas, Paralyzed Woman, Finishes London Marathon In Bionic Suit

It took her 16 days, but a paralyzed woman from England crossed the London Marathon finish line last week, becoming the first person ever to complete a marathon in a 'bionic' suit, ABC News reports.

Claire Lomas was paralyzed from the chest down after she broke her back in a freak horse-riding accident in 2007.

Doctors told the 32-year-old mom -- once a professional horse rider and chiropractor -- that she would never walk again.

But now, thanks to a $75,000 bionic suit that allows her to walk by detecting shifts in her balance, Lomas is back on her feet and taking great strides for spinal cord research, BBC News reports.

Lomas, alongside 35,000 other competitors, started in the 26.2-mile London Marathon on April 22.

With her husband Dan, mother Joyce and 13-month-old daughter Maisie by her side, Lomas walked about two miles a day to complete the course. More than a fortnight later, on May 8th, a tearful Lomas crossed the finish line as thousands of cheering supporters urged her forward.

"The support has been breathtaking and it feels fantastic to finally finish," Lomas, who was given a guard of honor by members of the Household Cavalry and the Virgin endurance trophy by CEO Richard Branson's daughter Holly, told the UK's Sun.

"I really didn’t expect this and I can’t quite believe it’s all for me. Everyone has been so supportive and I couldn’t have done it without them."

Lomas -- who said her finish line moment is one she will "treasure for the rest of [her] life" -- has raised more than $100,000 for spinal cord research, ABC News reports.

According to the BBC, the marathon organizers have been criticized for insisting that Lomas would not appear in the official results or receive a medal for finishing, as rules state competitors must complete the course on the same day.

However, Lomas told ITV News that she has received fourteen medals from members of the public who ran the marathon.

"She has epitomized what I thought the London Marathon was all about," said Jacqui Rose, one of the competitors who donated her medal to Lomas. "That medal, when you have completed it and gone through all the pain of it, symbolizes that achievement of what you have gone out of your way to do for charity. For her not to have got one ridicules what the marathon was all about."

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Comments

[jgamble28]

12:45 PM on 05/15/2012

What courage that took.I'm so glad she finished.

[marelli]

12:21 PM on 05/15/2012

Thisis a really dumb idea. Besides not all people has access to a 75k crotches. She is full of herself.

[wildzfan]

01:46 PM on 05/16/2012

Learn how to spell before spouting your hate and negativity.

[BabyFister]

07:16 PM on 05/16/2012

The technology exists and she's helping refine it. Soon it will be affordable. You're stupid.

[shawman65]

11:50 AM on 05/15/2012

What a great story. Congradulations.

[al pambuena]

10:52 AM on 05/15/2012

i suppose this is a great effort, but sometimes when these people go to extremes with all of this support and equipment, it just gets a little distorted, in the actual purpose of the race.

[KIVPossum]

10:34 AM on 05/15/2012

This one ought to be on the main page and not buried in Good News. To me this is a triumph of determination in the face of adversity that we can all learn from.

[websailor]

10:18 AM on 05/15/2012

Great Job and thanks to modern medicine she followed her dream.

[pslcitizen]

10:06 AM on 05/15/2012

Kudos Claire!

[grundoboy]

10:05 AM on 05/15/2012

awesome lady,, your leading the world! You've won already in the worlds eyes as you will help more go forward.

[mmvernes]

09:58 AM on 05/15/2012

That woman is truly an inspiration....Kudos to you Claire

[davide463]

09:00 AM on 05/15/2012

A "WOW" woman. Congrats Claire

[JimmySpyder]

08:59 AM on 05/15/2012

Congratulations Claire!!! This is a amazing accomplishment for all paralyzed people everywhere!!!! I too had a spinal cord injury back in 2007, leaving my left leg paralyzed. I tried a device that fired a series of electric shocks when the leg is lifted to move my foot with every step.Yes, it was very uncomfortable and painful to say the least, and not for me. And this was the best they had to offer at the time. Much more research needs to be done in this area of medicine, unfortunately there is no money to be made by big pharmaceutical companies here. So please give to causes like Claire's, to continue private and university spinal cord research. Again to Claire...Your my Hero!!!!!

[To Know Me Is To Love Me]

08:36 AM on 05/15/2012

It shows ta go ya, with money you can waste money on anything!

[Paws Up]

08:48 AM on 05/15/2012

waste???? How was enabling a paralyzed woman to walk and lead to $100,000 in donations for spinal cord research a waste?

[davide463]

08:59 AM on 05/15/2012

You consider this a waste of money? And what would you rather see it spent on?

[marelli]

12:17 PM on 05/15/2012

Other people, instead on me, me, me. Just an ego feeder here. Dumb idea. She is getting money for a company and their executives to spend. Not all people has access to a 75k crotches.

[Jarrod Putnam]

06:56 AM on 05/15/2012

Ah, technology. Comforts me to know that even if I get into a crappy time medically, I can still have some level of normality.

[KIVPossum]

02:32 AM on 05/15/2012

Congratulations Ms Lomas, an amazing show of determination.

[sugarrrrush]

11:21 PM on 05/14/2012

How Admirable!