Claire Lomas MBE

We are devastated to learn of the death of our Associate Claire Lomas in an accident while filming in Jordan.

We first met up with Claire last year and we knew immediately she would make an important contribution to our work with schools, not only as a source of inspiration but also as living example of finding the positives in the negative, of refusing to believe in limitations, and of being uncompromising in how a life can be led.

After becoming paralysed in a British eventing accident in 2007, she set about rebuilding her life, marrying in 2010 and having two children, as well as finding new outlets for her love of sporting challenges.

She came to public attention after completing the 2012 London Marathon in a ‘bionic suit’ in 17 days, and was given the honour of lighting the Olympic cauldron in Trafalgar Square later that year.

A prolific fundraiser who raised nearly £1,000,000 for spinal injury research, she was awarded an MBE in 2017.

By the time we met up with Claire last year, she had been riding racing motorcycles, she had been skiing, she had completed a 400-mile hand cycle trek and was learning to fly a plane.

She was also building a career as a speaker and presenter and was a loving wife and mother.

We were hoping she would join us for our Big Day Out in Sheffield last June but filming and family commitments meant she was unable to come.

However, she sent us a message linked to the video below that had gone viral earlier in the year:

“I was deliberating taking part in the mum’s race but knew pushing my wheelchair uphill on grass was going to be hard work.

No one was coming forward for the race so I thought ‘oh just do it, Claire !’

As I pushed down to the start the children were encouraging me and that was it- they were willing me on all the way to the finish line, along with the parents.

They made me feel like I’d won not lost - it was incredible.

I hope it made them all realise that sometimes in life you are best to have the courage to have a go rather than sit out and inclusivity is including everyone no matter what their ability.” 

The video and the message sum up who Claire was and what she embodied.

She will be missed by everyone who met her and who were both humbled and inspired by her.

She leaves a husband, Dan, and two children Maisie and Chloe.

Our hearts go out to them at this tragic time.