A 32-year-old paraplegic woman using a robotic walking suit has completed the London Marathon, 16 days after the event began.
Hundreds of onlookers cheered a tearful Claire Lomas on Tuesday afternoon as she crossed the finish line on The Mall in central London, The Sun reported.
Lomas, who was paralyzed from the chest down in a 2007 horse-riding accident, walked the 26.2-mile course using crutches and a £43,000 ($69,500) suit that uses motion sensors to help her move her legs. When Lomas shifts her balance, the ReWalk machine moves her joints forward, allowing her to take a step, the BBC reported.
Lomas, of Eye Kettleby, England, averaged more than 1.5 miles per day since the marathon began on April 22, following the official route. She stayed at a hotel at night and was driven to the spot where she stopped the day before, according to the BBC. Her husband, Dan Spicer, accompanied her the whole way, and her parents and 1-year-old daughter also were with her for parts of the walk.
"The support has been breathtaking, and it feels fantastic to finally finish," she said, according to The Sun. “I really didn’t expect this and I can’t quite believe it’s all for me. Everyone has been so supportive and I couldn’t have done it without them."
Lomas was walking, in part, to raise money for Spinal Research, a British charity that funds medical research to develop paralysis treatments. As of Tuesday evening, she had raised more than £105,000 ($169,600) online.
The marathon did not award her a medal, citing a rule that participants must finish on the day the event started. But publicity prompted 15 participants to donate their medals to her, the BBC reported.
Also, a daughter of Virgin Group chief Sir Richard Branson gave Lomas a Virgin trophy for endurance, according to The Sun. Virgin sponsors the race.
"It was so emotional when she crossed that line," Holly Branson said, according to The Sun. "Tears welled up in my eyes, and everyone was cheering."
Lomas' donation page links to a YouTube video showing what she says is an early training session with the walking suit. She wrote that she got the suit with the help of fundraising efforts by friends and others.
On the last mile of Lomas' walk, the crowd became silent as she paused in a mark of respect at the location where one of the London Marathon runners, 30-year-old Claire Squires, collapsed and died on April 22, The Sun reported.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Amazing! May God bless you abundantly!
Typical, When an innocent person loses the ability to walk it's fate, but when she works hard to redeem herself, it's god.
way to go girl... you have inspire me... you are the best... keep up the good work... i just said a prayer for you... asking that you get the strength to continue on.... way to go girl, you are the best...
If only the occupyers had her drive,mayby they could find a job instead of wanting everything handed to them.Great job girl you should be a inspiration for everybody!
What is military service if not a guaranteed job with almost not relevant or challenging prerequisites? 18 and a GED, impressive.
Finishing just one marathon can change your life. For those that don't know there is know explanation. For those that do know there is no explanation necessary.
Inspiration against all the odds. Today we need dreams, goals, and drive to keep going.
Congratulations Clair, from your well wishers in America. Tenacity is an admirably quality that this lady obviously has in abundance.
Congratulations..anything is possible if you put your mind into it .. God bless you
Way to go, Claire Lomas! I'm so proud of you and know only good things will come your way. Bless you.
No, she did NOT finish it on her own – she was carried by someone – it is a big difference!
You know what KR – that woman got to the point by walking – what makes the difference if she walked, was carried, flew over the finish line. You missed the entire point – are you always so cynical??
its a good thing a parapolegic had a kid i am sure she will be a great mom...
16 days? She finished in 16 DAYS?? holy crap...she crushed my time, i wish i could finish in 16 days.
congrats on that achievement, that's amazing!
I do not know It is good or sad.
I'm faster than that.
STOP AT NEVER – Great job Claire. Congratulations to you and your support team family.
Now this is the kind of story I wish we would hear more of! Thanks, Claire, for inspiring us all. God bless you.