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Lexi Chambers: How women’s rugby inspired a journey of overcoming adversity
By Ciara Fearn
Lexi Chambers’ story is one of remarkable resilience, determination, and inspiration. A former British Army recruit, Chambers’ life took an unexpected turn due to a severe medical condition, but she didn’t let that stop her.
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Instead, she found new paths, not only for herself but also to inspire others, drawing strength from unexpected places – like women’s rugby.
On 27 August, Chambers set off on a 1,400km journey which will see her cover approximately one marathon a day for 35 days as she uses her everyday wheelchair to wheel from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
Along the way, she will be carrying a rugby ball from club to club in an aim to connect the country with rugby.
Chambers hopes to be the first person to ever achieve the feat in an everyday wheelchair in search of her fifth World Record.
From soldier to nurse: A journey interrupted by pain
Chambers joined the Army with dreams of a long, fulfilling career, but her aspirations were cut short by a painful condition known as hammer toe.
“I was in the army for about a year before I ended up with issues with my feet. I saw others being discharged and I didn’t want to be one of them. I wanted to make it my career.
“I didn’t say anything and it got to the point where I was in so much pain that I couldn’t run anymore. I still couldn’t get any answers to what the issue with my feet was,” Chambers recalls.
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Despite her efforts to push through the pain, it became unbearable, forcing her to leave the army. After numerous surgeries and years of pain, the severity of her condition left her almost completely housebound.
Undeterred, Chambers decided to retrain as a nurse, aiming to serve in the Army’s medical corps. Yet, the pain persisted, leading to multiple surgeries over the years.
“I retrained as a nurse to potentially work on the medical side of the Army. At this point, I had really severe hammer toes on both feet and my problems continued. I had one surgery and eight months later I was still on crutches and off work for a while.
“Over eight years I had further surgeries where they removed parts of my foot to relieve pain.
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“It came to the point where I realised something wasn’t right. I went back to my doctor and said I wanted my leg amputated from the knee if this last surgery didn’t work.
“I wanted to do fitness again and I was almost completely housebound.”
Her decision was not taken lightly, but it was a step toward reclaiming her life. With the support of a JustGiving campaign, Chambers raised the funds necessary for the amputation, which ultimately set her on a new path.
“My JustGiving page took off and the doctors agreed to amputate.”
Finding strength in sport and women’s rugby
After her amputation, Chambers was determined to return to fitness, starting with the London Marathon.
“I wanted to raise as much money as I could but a marathon wasn’t enough, so I decided to do two triathlons, four half-marathons, the London Marathon, and two extra marathons.
“I managed to raise some money for Blesma, a military charity for limbless veterans. That was the start and I moved on from event to event.”
Setting world records along the way, she used her non-sport wheelchair to complete these challenges, proving that physical limitations couldn’t hold her back.
“Last year I set a world record for the furthest distance covered in twelve hours around a track using a non-sport wheelchair. I raised money for the Aaron Lewis Foundation, a charity that’s committed to transforming lives through sport and community action.
“The Aaron Lewis Foundation helped me out last year with making sure I had a wheelchair that actually fit me, which is incredible.”
It wasn’t just her inner strength that pushed Chambers forward; she found immense inspiration from an unexpected source—women’s rugby. Watching her first game was a revelation.
“These women are incredible. I felt really inspired by them. They’re professional athletes, yet they have to work full or part-time jobs on top of training because of the salary cap. That’s very unique for any athlete.”
This admiration for the determination and grit of women rugby players fueled her own drive.
“Women’s rugby inspires me massively. I think they’re absolutely phenomenal. I wanted to help the women’s game, so making my challenge into a relay was a natural step.
For Chambers, the focus wasn’t on her but on these remarkable athletes.
“I wanted the event to be about these amazing people, not just me.”
The metaphorical Everest: Overcoming challenges and inspiring others
Chambers’ journey is far from over. She continues to train rigorously, wheeling up to 50 km a day and completing three marathons a week, all while dealing with chronic pain conditions like Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia.
“It’s very challenging, but the physical part is easier for me; training gives me something else to focus on besides the pain,” Chambers says.
“Mentally, you have good days and bad days, but I see everything in intervals. When it’s at its worst, you just have to ride it through and carry on.”
Her next challenge in 2024 is nothing short of ambitious. Chambers plans to undertake a 35-day marathon challenge, symbolising her personal “metaphorical Everest.”
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“My biggest dream is to climb Everest, but when I became wheelchair-bound, I realised that was probably not going to happen,” Chambers reflects.
“In a way, what I’m doing is my own metaphorical Everest. Moving a normal everyday wheelchair is quite tough, so to be able to complete multiple marathons on multiple days will be a great achievement.”
Through her challenges, Chambers remains focused on giving back, particularly to the causes she holds dear.
“It’s more the charity side I’m focused on; I just want to help these amazing charities. Everyone is capable of overcoming their Everest; it’s just about finding a way, adapting, changing your expectations, and often your dreams and goals.”
Raising awareness and changing perceptions
Chambers is also working on a documentary to share her journey and the reality of living with chronic pain.
“I wanted to show people the CRPS side and also the women’s rugby club side,” she says.
By bringing attention to these issues, she hopes to inspire others to see beyond limitations and recognize the incredible strength within themselves.
“The 35 days in total it will take me, I try not to think about as a whole. I’ve been building up since my last event last year in August.
“For the past few months, I’ve been doing nearly three marathons a week. I combined this training with two gym sessions to help protect against injury and also to help me get up the hills that are incredibly tough.”
Chambers’ advice is simple yet profound: “Don’t let it define you.” Her story is a testament to that philosophy, as she continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible, both for herself and others.
“Exeter Chiefs are a close and supportive team – I want people to see that women’s rugby can offer so much more. It’s a lovely environment to be a part of.”
Through her efforts, Chambers is not only raising awareness but also helping to uplift the incredible athletes of women’s rugby, a sport that continues to inspire her every day.
Read more about the End2End Rugby Relay challenge and donate here.
