Claire Lomas

Claire Lomas

Today, 13 May 2013, paraplegic fundraiser Claire Lomas completed her extraordinary 640km hand bike challenge, at the iconic London Eye.

Claire was greeted at the finish line by over 300 well-wishers along with her husband Dan, two-year old daughter Maisie and a group of celebrity supporters including Gethin Jones, Helen Fospero, Dan Lobb and Spice Girl ‘Mel C’ who rode with her through the streets of London.

Prime Minister David Cameron also got involved to show his support for Claire’s Cycle today by tweeting a message of encouragement, as she passed by Downing Street on the last leg of her exhausting journey.

@claire80lomas sped past Downing St this morning on her 400m handbike cycle around Britain, raising awareness for @SpinalResearch & The Nicholls Foundation @TNSIF #ClairesCycle

After setting off on her charity challenge from Nottingham Trent University in April, Claire completed the equivalent of a marathon a day over three grueling weeks, powered entirely by her arms.

Along her route she visited 161 towns across 13 counties and inspired thousands of people, as she raised awareness for Spinal Research and the Nicholls Foundation.

To help meet her ambitious target of £100,000 Claire attempted to fundraise on the go with mobile donations and encouraged the people she met along the way to give money directly from their phones, using her unique Vodafone JustTextGiving code: LEGS60.

Claire said: "This has been the toughest mental and physical challenge of my life, a lot harder than last year’s London Marathon! I’m relieved to have finished, but so grateful to everyone that has text donated along the way, it’s what kept me going through the really hard days.

"My cycle may be over, but the search for a cure for paralysis isn’t, so after a few days of rest, I’ll start planning my next fundraising challenge."

Claire is fundraising through JustTextGiving by Vodafone, which means texts are free to send on any network and 100% of the donation goes to her chosen charity.

To support Claire’s Cycle, text LEGS60 £3 to 70070. Gift Aid can easily be added too.