Meningitis victim runs marathon

Miss Forbes was spurred on by the prospect of winning a medal

A woman who had both legs amputated below the knee after contracting meningitis has run the London marathon in 19 hours and 10 minutes.

Clare Forbes, 21, of Crawley, West Sussex, was in a coma for six months after suffering a stroke.

She only began walking again recently using prosthetic legs.

Meningitis Trust chief executive Philip Kirby said: "Clare is an inspiration. We are immensely proud of her achievement, and of all our runners."

He said: "The achievement is particularly special for Clare though, considering less than five years ago, having contracted meningococcal septicaemia, it was uncertain whether she would be able to walk again at all."

'No pain, no gain'

After the race, Miss Forbes said: "My legs are killing me.

"About four miles before the line I wanted to stop, I couldn't go any further.

"My legs were like jelly, I had blisters, and my legs were giving way - it was horrible."

The marathon took her 19 hours and 10 minutes

But she said: "I reached a target for myself and I raised money for the Meningitis charity, so it makes me happy."

And remembering how doctors feared at one stage that she would not be able to walk or talk again, she said: "I'll go to the hospital and show them the medal."

Her stepfather, Eiffee Verboort, who saw Miss Forbes in so much pain that he asked her to stop, said: "I thought she was going to give up and I told her she's got to stop.

"It had to be done - no pain no gain."

And her mother, Karen, said: "It was horrible to see her in so much pain, but she is so determined.

"She was not going to give in."

Miss Forbes, a former beauty student, said the prospect of helping charity and winning a medal helped her stay the 26-mile course.

She stopped overnight to resume and complete her marathon on Monday.

Miss Forbes had trained at home on a treadmill to get used to her new prosthetic legs.