Amputee regains NY marathon place

Clare Forbes had been training hard for the New York Marathon

A woman who walked the London Marathon despite having both legs amputated below the knee has had her place in the New York race reinstated.

Clare Forbes, of Crawley, West Sussex, had her ticket, race number and travel organised by the Meningitis Trust but the charity then cancelled her entry.

The trust said it was a decision made on health and safety grounds.

After several calls to the organisers, Ms Forbes, 21, will compete on 6 November as an independent entrant.

It's one of her goals to raise £1m by the time she's 25 and events like this will help her achieve that goal Eiffie Verboot

"I didn't really want to let anyone down so I was going to go anyway as an unofficial runner for my sponsors," she said.

But after a lot of persuasion from her parents, the organisers in New York agreed to let her in and her stepfather Eiffie Verboot said he was "chuffed to monkeys".

"It's one of her goals to raise £1m by the time she's 25 and events like this will help her achieve that goal," he added.

In April Ms Forbes completed the London Marathon in just over 19 hours.

But according to the New York marathon rules, the course must be completed in 15 hours, so Clare will have to better her time by four hours.

'More confidence'

"Marathon training gives me more confidence and is something to get me out the house. But my main aim is to raise money," she said.

Ms Forbes has prosthetic legs after having the amputations when she contracted meningitis in 2001.

The Meningitis Trust said it took the decision to cancel her place because of concerns over her health and welfare.

"But we have supported Clare and her family since her illness and will continue to do so."