Paralyzed* in a horse-riding accident in 2007, Claire Lomas was told by doctors that she would never walk again. But thanks to a special robotic suit, the 31-year-old Brit is now back on her feet.

    Lomas, who has been wheelchair-bound* since her accident, is so excited by recent developments that she’s decided to take on a challenge that even most able-bodied people would balk at* — a 41.6-km marathon*.

    The ReWalk suit, described as a powered exoskeleton* that provides user-initiated mobility, will help Lomas complete the course, taking place in London on April 22.

    Her first challenge is learning to walk using the robotic suit in the limited time she has left between now and the day of the event.

    ReWalk’s creator, an Israel-based tech company called Argo, says on its Web site that a user can control the robotic exoskeleton through subtle changes in their center of gravity. Crutches* are recommended to provide extra stability and safety.

    The technology comprises a number of motors and gears strapped* to the user’s lower body, while sensors* attached to the upper body help control the motion.

    A computer, together with a rechargeable battery power source, is located in a backpack. A user can even use ReWalk to climb stairs. When ReWalk senses the user moving their weight onto one foot, it raises the opposite leg and carries the user forward. Lomas says that she’s working on getting the rhythm* right.

    By completing the course — which she thinks could take up to three weeks — she hopes to raise about US$78,000 for spinal* research. (SD-Agencies)