C L A I R E D A N S O N

DO IT WITH DANSON COACHING . The announcement that I’ve been anxious about making. I have spent the last year gaining my coaching qualification and I am now ready to take on athletes to coach . The information is in all of the pictures above but the one thing I wanted to stress here is that sport is for everyone with no exceptions . You may be reading this thinking “it’s not for me” or “I’m not good enough” or you may have bad experiences from school or one of so many other reasons not to give it a go . But I promise that I will deliver coaching that is completely personal and shows that sport really is for you. Whether you are an experienced athlete or wanting someone to support you in starting your fitness journey then I would love to help you . If you want to talk more about what I can offer please send me a DM and we can chat with no obligation. I have 10 spaces available at only £100 per month so don’t miss out! . Ultimately I would love to get as many people as possible to discover the incredible joy, strength and resilience that sport brings. It has helped me so much in my life and I would love for it to be able to help you in yours . Let’s do this team . Claire xxx . #fitness #triathloncoaching #sportscoaching #fitnesscoaching #swim #bike #run #triathlon #coach #motivation #goals #newgoals #inspiration

PROPOSAL - FULL EDIT . I wasn’t sure whether to share this and whether it was too much. I’ve given it a lot of thought and came to the conclusion that I have shared so much of my life on here that I wanted to share this as well . The “British” part of me worried that sharing this might be showing off or something equally silly. But what I wanted it to be is just me sharing some joy with the online family that has supported me through all the highs and the lows of the last 6 years . So here it is… the happiest day of my life - Mat’s proposal in its entirety . Claire xxx . #proposal #wedding #fiancee #wheelchair #wheelchairlife #spinalcordinjury #paraplegic #motivation #hope

💍 DREAMS DO COME TRUE 💍 . Yesterday we threw a housewarming party for our friends and family… until there was a magical change of events. Mat asked me to marry him and of course I said yes . It was everything I could have ever wished for . To get engaged in front of my closest friends and family was the most special way I could possibly have imagined it happening . This incredible group of people have been there for me every day over the last 6 years (and many of them before that too). They have been with me through the most difficult days and now they have been with me on the best of days . I could not ask for more supportive and more wonderful friends and I am so grateful to every one of you. Of course not everyone could be there but we shared the news with them all straight away after and cannot wait to celebrate with you soon . And finally, to Mat, you are my everything, my whole world and more. You are the most special, kind, intelligent, thoughtful person I have ever met and I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you with all my heart . Claire xxx . P.S. I always wondered how people got their engagements filmed… turns out you just have to invite your closest friends and then you get it from every angle 😂 . #engagement #friends #wheelchairlife #paraplegic #fiance #ring

SPINAL CORD INJURY AWARENESS DAY . So what do I want you to know on spinal cord injury awareness day? . I want you to know that having a spinal cord injury does not ruin your life. It does not make you less. It does not make you incapable and it does not make you a burden . No one would ever choose this life. But what I don’t realise when I sustained my spinal cord injury is that it would enable me to live a life that is more full and more beautiful than I ever thought it could be when I was able bodied . I hope that I have shown that even if your life changes in the most challenging of ways, happiness, adventure and a life full of the most wonderful moments is still possible . So if you see someone with a spinal cord injury, please don’t make assumptions about their capabilities and their worth. Please remember that they are capable of great things. And please remember that their strength is unparalleled. They have been through so much and yet they are still here, still achieving, still living . If you are new to sustaining your injury my message to you is don’t give up hope. I know that the early days can be unbearable hard and it can feel life is over. I promise it isn’t. I promise some of the best moments of your life are still to come . 👉 Swipe through the slides to see some of my best moments of my life - they are all post spinal cord injury . Let’s do this team . Claire xxx . #spinalcordinjury #paraplegic #hope #wheelchair #motivation

CONCUSSION UPDATE . It’s all written in the slides but I’ll leave this here as well . Concussion has been a whole other level of worry and uncertainty. The rollercoaster of feeling better and then crashing and feeling terrible again is tough . I used to think having a concussion was just having a headache for a few days. Golly was I wrong . But with patience and doing everything right it is finally starting to feel like maybe things are improving (of course with the caveat that this could mean I wake up tomorrow and have a terrible day - such is concussion) . For anyone struggling with something that can’t be seen DMs are always open . Please no comments about knowing anyone with a concussion that lasted years. Positive experiences only! . Claire xxx . #concussion #concussionrecovery #wheelchair #paraplegic #nevergiveup

RED BULLETIN MAGAZINE . Did a really cool thing with Red Bull. Photoshoot in my mums front room was not on the plan for the year but it was FUN! . A constant reminder that life rarely goes how we plan and that’s ok. But what matters is that we make the most of every second . Without my spinal cord injury I would never have had the opportunity to do this and so many other epic things. Forever grateful for my messy, chaotic life that continues to throw obstacles at me from all directions . I plan to continue to take everyone of them in my stride and to take every opportunity that comes my way; to live life to its absolute fullest . Let’s do this team . Claire xxx . 👉swipe for the final photo they used in a double page spread! . Don’t forget that the Wings for Life World Run is on the 10th May this year and there is still time to enter!! . @redbulluk @redbull @wingsforlife @wflworldrun . #nevergiveup #opportunity #paraplegic #wheelchair #paraathlete

Shaun, . I didn’t know what to write and then I found this first picture from one of my stories a few years ago and it summed up everything . You were the most incredible friend and you will be missed by everyone who knew you . The most wonderful partner, father and friend. Our lives will not be the same without you. Thank you for all the wonderful memories I have of you. Rest in peace 🕊️ . Claire xxx

This International Women’s Day, we are delighted to announce our first panel speaker. Joining us at the next Her Power Her Play event on Wednesday 25th March will be Claire Danson. Claire’s story is one of impressive mental and physical strength and one that cannot fail to impress and inspire. Drawing on her experiences and her own mental fortitude Claire is able to speak about topics such as overcoming both physical and mental challenges, drive and determination, goal setting and motivation to keep going. Claire is also very keen to draw attention to the importance of mental health and developing a positive sense of worth. Claire was a very successful GB age group triathlete having won a number of races and competed all around the world in European and World Championships. In 2019 her sporting career really started to come to fruition. Her goal for 2019 was to get her long distance professional racing license. However, just days before the race Claire was hit by a tractor whilst out riding her bike. Claire sustained catastrophic injuries and was left paralysed from the chest down resulting in her life changing forever. Since her injury Claire has used her impressive mindset to return to the sport that she loves as a para triathlete and hand cyclist. In just over five years since her accident she has undertaken multiple triathlon challenges, cycled from London to Paris and been selected to be on the Great Britain hand cycling team. The journey has been a tough one, full of ups and downs but Claire has tackled every obstacle thrown at her with a smile on her face and a positive mindset. We cannot wait to hear Claire speak!

FREEDOM! . Just Maisie showing us all what life is all about. Pretty sure she’s smiling in this video 🥰🥰🥰 . #cockapoo #cockapoosofinstagram #dogsofinstagram #dog #freedom

TRANSFER INTO THE BIKE . The video kind of says it all really! I remember the first time I tried to do this it was so hard and so terrifying! It feels like such a long way down! . Sharing to help anyone who may struggle with this transfer or who is perhaps newly injured. Also to highlight some of the everyday things that are difficult and how spinal injuries are not just about not being able to walk! . My legs make this transfer quite tough. They don’t spasm much in this video but they often do which is another challenge . But the good thing about this transfer is it is very much gravity assisted which is very helpful! . Claire xxx . #wheelchairlife #spinalcordinjury #wheelchair #nevergiveup #paraathlete

❤️ THANK YOU❤️ . Thank you for seeing me for exactly who I am. Thank you for being my legs and taking me to places I cannot go on my own. Thank you for fixing my wheelchair when it breaks. Thank you for building us our forever home. Thank you for always being there when I end up in hospital. Without question you are there by my side even when that means sleeping on the floor in the hospital . But most of all thank you for making me feel like I fit, for making me feel like there is a place for me in this world. For as long as I can remember I have felt different. I have felt like if I am too much myself then I will be found out and everyone will know that I don’t belong. Thank you for loving me despite my weirdness. For putting up with my constant singing, for listening to whatever my current favourite song is on repeat 24 hours a day, for talking to me when I am anxious about ridiculous things but never making me feel ridiculous for them. Thank you for putting up with my constant talking and the way my brain goes from one topic to the next, especially when we are trying to sleep! Having said that thank you for putting up with my constant talking whilst we are asleep too! . Thank you for always believing in me and whatever my latest crazy idea is. Thank you for believing in me when I don’t believe in myself . Thank you for loving me even when I thought no one could. Thank you for loving me so much that I have even started to like myself for exactly the person I am . Happy Valentine’s Day to my favourite human. You are the thing I love most about me ❤️ . I love you to the moon and back . Claire xxx . #valentinesday #wheelchairlife #paraplegic #spinalcordinjury #iloveyou

TRANSFERS . Really just jumping on a trend… adding the last video I took to this music . Totally works as a trend, but also lets me show you guys another transfers. They are 100% one of the more difficult things about being a wheelchair user and more specifically one who severely damaged my shoulder in my accident . I’ve always found them very hard but looking at this video I’m actually pretty proud of myself. Yes, most people transfer much better than me, but I’ve worked hard to be totally independent with this and I have improved so much over the years . Transfers for people in wheelchairs is never something that I would have thought about before I became paralysed so I actually think it’s pretty important to show this stuff and how to do this when you can’t use your legs. It certainly does not make us “wheelchair bound” and we are still perfectly capable of chilling on the sofa! . This is certainly not the best technique. I don’t lean far forward enough which would help a lot but I’m always terrified of toppling over. I have no core at all so my balance is terrible. Please share any tips for me and anyone else reading in the comments! 👇 . Plus I really love my jumper in this video 🤣 . Claire xxx . #wheelchairlife #spinalcordinjury #wheelchair #paraplegic #resilience