Claire Lomas MBE

Paralysed 2007. London & Manchester Marathon,GNR & GSR in a robotic suit. 400 mile cycle.Fundraised £916k Speaker. Wife. Mum. Motorcyclist. Pilot. Author

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

6 hours 40 mins later - THE FINISH and my own medal 🏅!! https://t.co/WFUGKSEBA1

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

A spinal cord injury puts a stop to so much…

All those things that were often taken for granted suddenly wiped away.

It took a while to be able to look back with happiness and not feel sad but in the end I got there… and those great times became wonderful memories.

Here are a few - some of which I hadn’t seen for around 18 years but have just had them transferred to USB. ❤️

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

Childhood memories 🤣❤️

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

500 delegates at the RVUnite event made a fantastic group for my last event before the summer break…

It’s been a busy first half to the year. I’ve met some fantastic people.

Thanks to everyone for booking me to speak- each and every one has a different feel and I love them all. ❤️

It may be the last speaking gig for a few weeks but I now have a two week filming project/challenge. I am so excited to start that next week- it is one of those things I can’t believe I am doing.

I can’t wait to share that adventure with you all but for now is 🤫🤐🤣🙈

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

It took a long time to adapt.

I had just reached the highest level in my sport, my goals and ambitions were set high then everything changed in a split second.

An accident left me paralysed from the chest down.♿️

If my younger ‘able bodied’ self could have said anything to prepare me for overcoming adversity, it would be …

🗯️There are so many paths to explore.

There will be things you haven’t even considered before.

Don’t close a door that you could open.

Keep an open mind, be willing to try new things and exploring the unknown can be scary but fun.

#DisabilityPrideMonth

#OvercomingAdversity

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

There are usually two ways of looking at things
😁 with a positive mind
😢 with a negative mind.

I have an incredibly exciting adventure coming up 🎬🎥

It’s time to pack 🧳

One suitcase will be full of the things I need just for my bowel and bladder ….because a spinal cord injury means you lose control of both. I can’t feel with they need emptying - and it’s impossible to get it right based on just timings- so many factors to take into account.

Everywhere I go my spinal cord injury comes with me. 24/7 …

not even Christmas Day or bank holidays off!

How rude of it! The injury is selfish…. It can rule your life if you let it.

Always in the back of my mind is when will I need to catheterise or will I have access to a toilet when I need it.

That’s why take so many pants… I have have a sneaky pee and no one knows (not even me 🤣)

On the other hand…..

💥I wouldn’t be going in this amazing adventure if I hadn’t had my spinal cord injury.

Sometimes the biggest of changes can bring the best opportunities and you know what��

….best to just grab the bull by its horns 🥳

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

It’s #DisabilityPrideMonth

When I had an accident that changed my life forever ♿️ I felt embarrassed and broken…

I felt like I lost my identity.

It took time to accept and adapt.

Now I feel more confident than I ever used to be and I am content with who I am.

Disability doesn’t mean inability.

It doesn’t mean I am ‘less’ because of my disability

Disability doesn’t define me yet it has contributed to who I am today..

This is me 👇🏻

I have lived 27 years without a disability and 17 with a disability…

…and many of the best days of my life come after my life changing spinal cord injury.

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

I packed what I thought was a lot of books but I ran out- annoying mistake when I have plenty at home 🙈 I will be posting some out this week.

Anyway the week has started with lots of exercise …
My voice 🎤with two conferences for @raisethebar_ followed by signing all the books I took! ✍️

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

After a lots of comments on my recent social media post that went viral, I have written this blog 👇🏻

https://t.co/yBLZEG3QMy

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

@potin ❤️🙏🏻😃 thank you so much

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

What if your life changes in a split second?

No preparation at all.

All of a sudden your world is very different.

Tough times don’t have to define us but can redefine us.

Paralysis closed many doors in my life but it has opened even more.

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

@SarraHoy @GethincJones @HelenSkelton Arh love this 🥰 thanks so much. Hope you and Chris are ok and your little ones of course ❤️xx

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

Starting this week with an interview on BBC Morning Live with @GethincJones and @HelenSkelton about my recent achievement…..

Last in the mum’s race at Sport’s Day. 🤣🙈

I did it for my daughter who was a little sad I came last but really proud too. ❤️

I explained that if I let coming last put me off doing things then I wouldn’t have done half of what I have done over the years…

17 days for the London Marathon, 5 days for Great North Run and 9 days for Manchester Marathon (using a robotic suit) and usually the slowest on a track day too 🏍️💨

…but harder the struggle the more glorious the triumph.
😃

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

@NickiI85314144 @JLASpeakers Thank you Nicki- so glad you enjoyed it. I certainly loved being with you all. ❤️

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

Enjoyed speaking at this great event yesterday for HC-One @JLASpeakers

500 delegates from a care home company whose moto is ‘caring with kindness’

There was no surprise this event had a special warmth about it . They all make such a difference to people’s lives daily. ❤️
#motivationalspeaker #afterdinnerspeaker #keynote

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

Loved both my GNR

2016- walked it using an exoskeleton suit taking five days.

2022- pushed my every day wheelchair around the course taking under 3 hours

All to help reverse paralysis.. ❤️

[Great Run @Great_Run]

Happy Birthday to the AJ bell Great North Run! 🎈🎂

🤩 Forty three years ago, on the 28th June 1981, over 12,000 people lined up in Newcastle for the first Great North Run – it was the start of something special!🙌

Share your favourite GNR memories with us below! 🎉👇

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

Only got in from last night’s cycle at 9pm after speaking at an event in the day ….

But today I’ve had an early start to beat the heat #handcycling and also beat all the family out of bed 😃🥇

It was lovely 👌

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

@MeltonBelvoir @GethincJones @HelenSkelton ❤️ say thank you from me to your little boy please

[Claire Lomas MBE @claire80lomas]

@FrannyReeve1 @GethincJones @HelenSkelton ❤️🐌