Claire Lomas: Inspirational & Motivational Speakers

Claire’s life turned upside down when she became paralysed from the chest down in a horse-riding accident. Determined to make the best of the situation, since she has focused her efforts on fundraising to help the search for a cure to paralysis. Claire became headline news in 2012 when she became the first person to walk the London Marathon in a robotic suit, Claire shares her inspirational story on the speaking circuit.

Claire’s life turned upside down on 6th May 2007 when she became paralysed from the chest down in a horse-riding accident. Claire fractured her neck, dislocated her back, fractured ribs, punctured a lung and got pneumonia. Luckily the neck fracture didn't damage the spinal cord but, she was left paralysed from the chest down.

Claire was a Chiropractor and top level event rider when this freak accident left her unable to do the things she loved. Although Claire was determined to overcome adversity and make the best out of the situation, there were plenty of days Claire struggled to even get the motivation to get out of bed.

After discharging herself from hospital only a short 8 weeks after the accident, she found strength and courage to rebuild her life by finding new interests and work as well as raising hundreds of thousands of pounds for research.

A year after her accident Claire met and later married Dan, they had a baby girl - Maisie. She found some new sports (skiing, handcycling, motorbikes), set up a business and fundraised to help get a cure for paralysis. Feeling lucky to still have the use of her arms, Claire was driven to fundraise as much as possible.

In 2012 Claire became headline news worldwide. She was the first paralysed person to walk the London Marathon, she did it in a pioneering robotic suit. It took 17 days and raised £210,000 for Spinal Research.

She was then invited to light the Paralympic cauldron in Trafalgar Square.

In 2013 Claire completed her next challenge, handcycling 400 miles around parts of England and visiting many schools along the way to do inspirational talks raising another £85,000. She also walked the Great North Run in her bionic suit.

Claire has raised considerable sums for charity through her own achievements and by organising events. An inspiration to all, Claire has proved that in the face of the harshest adversity you can still preserve and achieve unimaginable goals.