ChildFund Rugby ambassador relishing record-breaking World Cup challenge

Yahoo

18 hours ago

By Laura Howard
ChildFund Rugby ambassador Lexi Chambers was overwhelmed as she was presented with the opening matchday whistle for the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 at Allianz Stadium ahead of her world record-breaking fundraising challenge.
Chambers is attempting to complete 10 ultramarathons in 10 days in a non-sport wheelchair, covering the distance between Allianz Stadium, Twickenham and the Stadium of Light in Sunderland to fundraise for ChildFund Rugby.
She will time her arrival in Sunderland to coincide with England's opening match against the USA where she will deliver the official match whistle.
'It's amazing. The whistle side is a real shock and just holding it and being here [at Allianz Stadium] is a dream come true for a rugby fan,' said Chambers, who set off on her journey from Twickenham Stoop on Sunday.
'I'm fighting the urge to kiss the turf at the moment, it's like hallowed ground. I'm overwhelmed.
'Watching the girls playing and knowing they've got the biggest tournament of their lives coming up and they will have given everything they can to get there always inspires me.
'When the days get tough, I'll think of them and how they're going to be feeling when they come to their big challenge.'
Chambers is a five-time world record holder, Army veteran and endurance athlete who has fibromyalgia and complex regional pain syndrome - with the latter resulting in her leg being amputated.
Having covered 874 miles in 45 days from John O'Groats to Land's End last year for rugby, she is now attempting another world record for ChildFund Rugby to inspire others to get involved in the sport.
'I want to show that sport is for everybody. If you have any adversity in your life you have two choices: you can say that's it or you can change your life for the better,' she said.
'It's not easy but it's possible and you only get one life so you may as well be the best you can with it.
'I was offered a sports wheelchair but I thought most people don't have access to things like a sportschair, they can be around £60,000. Why should sport just be for people who can afford it? It should be for everyone.'
It is a message that perfectly encapsulates the aims of World Rugby's charity partner ChildFund Rugby, who use the sport as a tool for development across the world.
'Lexi's is a legacy that people have to hear because it can be so inspiring. Other people will hear that and it will create a knock on effect,' said ChildFund Ambassador and former Leicester Tigers player Zainab 'Zee' Alema.
'That's what we want to do, especially with this World Cup. It's inspiring different people, from different walks of life, to just get involved in sport.'
It puts rugby, and the Women's Rugby World Cup 2025, at the forefront of creating change with the tournament set to be the biggest iteration of the tournament yet.
Managing Director of Women's Rugby World Cup 2025 Sarah Massey handed over the golden whistle to Chambers at the Allianz Stadium and was left feeling inspired by her challenge.
'The whistle is one of the most iconic pieces of equipment that we will use in any of our matches and the fact Lexi is breaking another world record to get it to Sunderland is extraordinary,' she said.
'It's such a symbolic moment to be able to link that with such an amazing cause like ChildFund, the two together just represent the spirit of the Women's Rugby World Cup.'
Chambers will be fundraising for the charity along the route as every kilometre acts as a call to action to invest in young people, to challenge what's possible, and to celebrate rugby as a platform for change.
'Any time that people purchase tickets there's an opportunity to donate, when they buy merchandise at the stands they can round-up and donate, and there are places on the website to support Lexi,' explained Co-Director of ChildFund Rugby Megan Knight.
'There are so many opportunities to get involved and donate at such an exciting moment for women's rugby.'