Paralysed and pregnant, Claire Lomas became the first person to finish the Great North Run.
Lomas, 36, wearing a bionic suit, completed the half marathon before the elite men, women or wheelchairs. She started the 13.1-mile course on Wednesday morning, crossing the finish line at 10am on Sunday.
She walked the course using a revolutionary bionic exoskeleton ReWalk suit, alongside her husband Dan and her support team, raising more than £10,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Fund on the way.
After completing the circuit, Lomas also announced that she is expecting a second child and is 16 weeks pregnant.
Lomas, from Leicestershire, was paralysed from the chest down in a horse riding accident in 2007. The accident, which occurred as she took part in the Osberton Horse Trials in Nottinghamshire, left her with a broken neck, back and ribs and a punctured lung.
Speaking of her achievements, Lomas said, “I’m so relieved to have finished. It was incredible. I had so much support from everyone on the course.”
“There were times when I thought I was going to quit, and I questioned whether I was going to be here today, but I’m so glad I made it.”
Olympic athlete Mo Farah, who also took part in the run, said, “It’s pretty amazing for someone to have gone through everything she’s gone through, and yet still manage to finish the Great North Run. I just want to congratulate her and her team. This is what the Great North Run is about.”
“Anyone can come out and have the motivation, and for someone like her to do that is pretty amazing.”
“We just need to encourage other people to do it, and I just want to congratulate everyone who’s behind her and herself. For her to have the courage to complete is pretty amazing.”
