A charity fundraiser will not be able to race around the TT courts this year after all.

Claire Lomas, who was left paralysed from the chest down after a horse riding accident in 2007, planned to go round the course in the Manx Grand Prix.

She said: ’I’m really disappointed. I felt ready for it. A lot of time and effort went into preparing for it, building my stamina up and being able to ride the bike.’

The 38-year-old had been set to race on August 29 using a Suzuki SV650, which has a left-hand operated gear change, toe clips to stop her feet from sliding and velcro to keep her knees in place.

She said that she felt ’shocked’ after receiving a phone call from event organisers on June 29 saying that the 37.73mile charity lap, in aid of Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation, The Bike Experience and The Matt Hampson Foundation, would no longer go ahead.

Claire added the MGP gave her a short statement to share publicly once the cancellation was declared.

It reads: ’Unfortunately the challenge lap at the Isle of Man will not go ahead in August this year. This is due to operational circumstances. Non-racing activities such as this are always difficult to fit in.’

She said: ’I don’t know the reasons for the challenge lap being cancelled. I will get over it. There’s worse things that can happen in life. I’ve just got to get on with it.’

Since her accident in 2007, Claire has taken part in a number of fundraising events, including the Manchester marathon last year and has raised around £660,000 to date.

Around £3,000 has already been donated towards the now-cancelled MGP lap.

She said: ’People have already been very generous and I felt that I had let people down really.’

Taking to Twitter, the Leicestershire woman asked people for ideas on a new motorbike fundraising challenge.

She soon got a reply from the race director of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship (BSB) Stuart Higgs who said that he would be interested in helping her ’accomplish [her] goals and furthering this incredible story’.

She will now be completing a charity lap at the BSB this year instead.

’Stuart got in touch and was very generous,’ she said. ’We had a chat on Tuesday (July 3) and it was incredible. That’s the power of Twitter.’

Claire had been taking part in track days at Donington Park and had also ridden at Rockingham circuit. Both are near her home in Melton Mowbray.

’Motorcycling was something I certainly never thought I would be able to do due to my situation, but it is something that gives me a sense of freedom.

’I came into the biking community and they were very welcoming. It was a chance to learn a great sport and show that other people can do it.’

When asked if she would consider coming back to do a lap of the TT course in future, she replied: ’I’d come back if they had me. It would be a big honour, but I can’t decide that one. It’s up to them.’

iomtoday.co.im contacted the MGP for a comment.

A spokesman said: ’The Manx Motor Cycle Club was very keen to support the remarkable Claire Lomas when she approached us about her ambitious attempt to lap the TT Mountain Course on a solo motorcycle.

’However, we have concerns about her level of experience in motorcycling to date and the demanding nature of the challenge that she has set herself.

’The TT Mountain Course has varying terrain and over 227 corners - it is both a major mental and physical challenge - and we feel that based on her development sessions with rider coaches, this year’s event is too soon for her to complete the challenge safely.

’As race organisers we are duty bound to act responsibly and have therefore advised Claire that we cannot permit the lap this year.

’We are delighted that Claire has been able to investigate an alternative challenge - through contact with BSB organisers for which we wish her the best of luck and we will continue to maintain a dialogue with Claire as she builds experience in riding a motorcycle.’

To support Claire’s cause search www.claireschallenge.co.uk