A British woman with paraplegia became the first person to complete the London Marathon, United Kingdom, in an exoskeleton as she crossed the finish line on May 8, 16 days after the official start date.
Claire Lomas completed the 26.2-mile course in her Argo Medical Technologies ReWalk™ suit. She walked about one to two-and-a-half miles a day, accompanied by her husband,their 13-month-old daughter, and her parents, according to an article in MailOnline.
“Once I started, I just took each day as it came and every step got me a step closer,” she was quoted as saying.
Lomas’ entry was not officially timed, and she will not receive an official medal, as competitors have to complete the course within 24 hours. However, other marathon finishers have come forth and given her their own medals to recognize her accomplishment.
Lomas, who now works as a jewelry designer, raised more than $208,000 for the U.K.-nonprofit Spinal Research, which funds medical research worldwide to develop reliable treatments for paralysis caused by a broken back or neck. A former chiropractor, Lomas broke her back when she was knocked off a horse while competing in a horse trials event in May 2007.
