{"id":11208,"date":"2016-02-17T19:39:35","date_gmt":"2016-02-17T19:39:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brennigjones.com\/blog\/?p=11208"},"modified":"2016-02-17T19:39:35","modified_gmt":"2016-02-17T19:39:35","slug":"blogathon-1716-not-knowing-when-to-give-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brennigjones.com\/blog\/?p=11208","title":{"rendered":"Blogathon 17\/16: Not Knowing When To Give In"},"content":{"rendered":"

Up until May 2007, she was an Event rider.<\/p>\n

She worked with and competed on horses, at various levels, in National and International, One Day and Three Day Event competitions.<\/p>\n

She was based at her home in\u00a0Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire.<\/p>\n

And then, in May 2007, whilst out competing, she had a serious fall.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

For most of us, it would have been, at this point, the place where we could have fallen\u00a0in to depression.<\/p>\n

Or become wound up in ourselves, become introvert.<\/p>\n

And withdrawn.<\/p>\n

Not so with her.<\/p>\n

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

\"Lomas
Lomas pushbike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She has completed the 32nd Virgin London Marathon in 17 days, using the ReWalk robotic suit.<\/p>\n

\"Clare
Clare Lomas, marathon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

She also found time to take on her own local authority over their promised, but unproduced disabled parking space<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Clare
Clare Lomas’ parking space<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And she’s done these things (and others) in the name of fund-raising for Spinal Research.<\/p>\n

Her latest challenge is to take on motorbikes. Using a specially adapted machine, she has completed laps of Donnington Park circuit.<\/p>\n

\"Clare
Clare Lomas motorbike<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

And she has raised, since her initial accident in 2007, over \u00a3500,000 for charity.<\/p>\n

Why is she throwing herself at raising so much money?<\/p>\n

Because \u00a310,000,000 will treat the next ten spinal injury patients.<\/p>\n

Think about that for a moment.<\/p>\n

On Saturday 14th May 2016 she’s organising a motorbike ride-out.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Road2Recovery Charity Ride Out will leave Eye Kettleby Lakes at 11am.<\/p>\n

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

She will lead the rideout on her motobike.<\/p>\n

At Wistow there will be food and drink choices, a bike show, a raffle and live music.<\/p>\n

Not bad for a paraplegic, eh?<\/p>\n

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s have some respect for Clare Lomas:<\/p>\n