Claire grateful after race ban is overturned

Fundraiser extraordinaire Claire Lomas says she's thrilled that the organisers of a 10k race have lifted a ban on her taking part because of her robotic suit.

The determined mum-of-one, from Eye Kettleby, had been barred from entering the Vitality 10,000 in London, taking place on Monday (May 30), because the rules of the event prohibited ‘motorised assistance’.

Despite the setback defiant Claire (36), who was paralysed from the chest down following a riding accident in 2007, decided she’d walk the route anyway to raise money and awareness for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation (nsif) - which funds research into curing spinal injury.

But now the event director Nigel Brasher has contacted Claire, a nsif patron, to say she can take part as an unofficial entry.

Claire, who famously completed the 2012 London Marathon in a motorised robotic suit in 17 days, said: “It’s great news that they’ve agreed to let me be part of the Vitality 10,000, although an unofficial entry.

“I’ll start at 5am. There will be a finish line for me if I make it and a medal if I complete it. I’m grateful for this.”

Claire expects it’s going to take her about 10 hour to complete the course, with her husband Dan (41), their five-year-old daughter, Maisie, and other supporters there to cheer her on.

With just days to go until her latest gruelling charity challenge Claire has already smashed her fundraising target more than nine times over, raising more than £9,000.

Since her accident, Claire has raised more than £515,000 for spinal injuries charities.

Earlier this month, she staged her second Ride 2 Recovery event – on a 650cc motorbike – where she was joined by more than 150 other bikers setting off from her Eye Kettleby home through Melton, Oakham and Uppingham, before ending up at Wistow Rural Centre, near Great Glen.

It raised more than £1,500 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation and The Bike Experience, a charity that aims to teach disabled motorcyclists to ride again.

To donate to Claire’s Vitality London 10,000 challenge visit www.justgiving.com/claire
80lomas or text LEGS60 #5 to 70070.

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