Lexi drops in to Sandy Park before completing End2End challenge

Record-breaking wheelchair athlete Lexi Chambers called into Sandy Park before setting off on her final week of her End2End Rugby Relay.

The Army veteran was welcomed by Exeter Chiefs Women’s players and club staff as she returned to her home city before setting off towards Cornwall.

Lexi began her quest to wheel a standard wheelchair from John O’Groats to Land’s End on August 27, covering an average of a marathon a day, and is due to finish today.

Raising money for the Exeter Chiefs Foundation and the Aaron Lewis Foundation, Lexi has battled through all weathers and three chronic pain conditions - CRPS, fibromyalgia and nerve issues – to cover the 45-day 1,500km route.

The former Army nurse and below-knee amputee has also used the event to throw the spotlight on women’s rugby by passing a ball to all the clubs she has visited along the way. The final ball in the relay will be brought from Penryn RFC to Sandy Park on Sunday when Chiefs Women play Leicester Tigers Women.

Exeter Chiefs Women’s head coach Susie Appleby was among the crowd that greeted Lexi at Sandy Park last week.

She said: “What Lexi has achieved is remarkable. She has been through such tough times on this challenge but has battled through, getting stronger and stronger every day. She is a real inspiration to us all in so many ways.

“Lexi is also one of our superfans and it has been strange not seeing her at our games so far this season. We look forward to welcoming her back to Sandy Park this weekend, when hopefully she will treat herself to well-deserved rest.”