Riders get their gear off to help injured eventer

British event riders have finally done it. The breeches, boots and body protectors have been removed – with some encouragement – and the first dare-to-bare event riders' calendar is now on sale.

All proceeds will go to the Claire Lomas Walk Campaign. Last May Claire, an experienced top-level rider, suffered serious injuries while competing at Osberton Horse Trials.

A collision with a tree left her with a punctured lung and fractures to her neck, back and ribs which ultimately resulted in spinal cord injury.

After 10 days in intensive care and eight weeks in the Northern General Hospital's Spinal Injuries Unit in Sheffield – the shortest time anyone has spent in that hospital with her type of injury – Claire went home, albeit paralysed and in a wheelchair.

She is determined to get herself walking again and a trip to 'Project-Walk' in California – the most experienced exercise-based spinal cord injury recovery centre in the World – has given her the incentive to get back on her feet again.

Claire is now resolutely trying to raise money for another visit and to fund the physiotherapy programme and equipment she needs to help develop her walking skills again.

Fellow competitor and current World Champion, Zara Phillips, has put the calendar, that features many of her well-known eventing friends and team-mates, on her Christmas shopping list.

“Everyone who competes in eventing knows that the accident Claire suffered could easily happen to anyone of us. I am very happy to support a fellow sportsman, especially Claire, whose determination to get herself back on her feet and regain her independence I can only admire.”

As well as being sold at the British Eventing Ball, the Northern Ireland Eventing Ball and hopefully The Olympia International Show Jumping Championships in December, the calendars, which cost £9.99 (including postage in Britain) can be bought online from Claire's own 'get-claire-walking' website, www.get-claire-walking.co.uk.