Blogathon 17/16: Not Knowing When To Give In

Up until May 2007, she was an Event rider.

She worked with and competed on horses, at various levels, in National and International, One Day and Three Day Event competitions.

She was based at her home in Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.

And then, in May 2007, whilst out competing, she had a serious fall.

As a result of the accident, which resulted in broken ribs puncturing her lungs and causing pneumonia, multiple fractures on her neck, and a spinal cord injury causing paralysis from the chest down, she is now a paraplegic, with no use of her legs, and only partial sensation in the lower half of her body.

For most of us, it would have been, at this point, the place where we could have fallen in to depression.

Or become wound up in ourselves, become introvert.

And withdrawn.

Not so with her.

Since May 2007, she has ridden a specially adapted bicycle over 400 road-miles, from Nottingham to London, in three weeks.

She has completed the 32nd Virgin London Marathon in 17 days, using the ReWalk robotic suit.

She also found time to take on her own local authority over their promised, but unproduced disabled parking space.

And she’s done these things (and others) in the name of fund-raising for Spinal Research.

Her latest challenge is to take on motorbikes. Using a specially adapted machine, she has completed laps of Donnington Park circuit.

And she has raised, since her initial accident in 2007, over £500,000 for charity.

Why is she throwing herself at raising so much money?

Because £10,000,000 will treat the next ten spinal injury patients.

Think about that for a moment.

On Saturday 14th May 2016 she’s organising a motorbike ride-out.

The Road2Recovery Charity Ride Out will leave Eye Kettleby Lakes at 11am.

The route will take the ride through Melton Mowbray, Oakham and Market Harborough before arriving at Wistow Rural Centre at approx 1pm.

She will lead the rideout on her motobike.

At Wistow there will be food and drink choices, a bike show, a raffle and live music.

Not bad for a paraplegic, eh?

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s have some respect for Clare Lomas: