West Ham United’s charity partner Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limbloss...
Lexi Chambers joined the Royal Signals at the age of 22, but left the British Army and the career she loved after suffering with chronic and excruciating pain caused by Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
“I loved being in the Army, but I began noticing pain whenever I ran,” she explained. “It was the start of a nightmare. Eight surgeries in eight years followed. They broke bones then reset them, cut and lengthened tendons, and performed joint release surgery.
“I was told I would be able to run after 12 weeks, but six months later I was still off work and couldn’t walk. I would get so depressed I wouldn’t go out for months.”
The pain became so unbearable that Lexi elected to have her left leg amputated below the knee in 2019.
Post-amputation, as Lexi attempted to rebuild her life, she faced significant challenges – including adjusting to life as a full-time wheelchair user and coping with ongoing pain.
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, stepped in to provide crucial support during this transition. The charity assisted Lexi by providing a lightweight wheelchair, facilitating driving lessons, and offering guidance through the complexities of the benefits system.
Lexi said: “I lost my career and becoming dependent on my wheelchair was a big adjustment, but Blesma has been there supporting me the whole way through. I was quite low and stuck before Blesma.
“They have always understood and had a big, positive impact on my life.”
Over time, determined not to let her circumstances define her, Lexi pursued her passion for sports and fitness.
She adapted her training methods using a wheelchair and set ambitious goals, participating in multiple events to support Blesma. Notably, she broke the world record for the fastest female to complete a marathon using a non-sport wheelchair during the London Marathon.
She said: “I had dreams of running a marathon and triathlon before my amputation, and I was determined those dreams would not be gone forever...”
In 2024, Lexi undertook an extraordinary challenge: propelling her standard wheelchair nearly 1,000 miles from John O'Groats to Land’s End. Over 45 days, she covered marathon distances most days, facing steep climbs and physical exhaustion.
She added: “It is a great personal achievement but more importantly it sends out a message that you don’t need loads of equipment to get active.”
Blesma: Supporting Limbless Veterans for Life
Based in Chelmsford, Blesma is a UK Armed Forces charity dedicated to supporting serving and ex-Service men and women who have experienced life-changing limb loss, or the loss of use of limbs, eyes or sight.
The charity offers lifelong support to those who have served our country.
Blesma provides a range of services, including prosthetic and mobility assistance, grants, benefits advice, and a variety of activities designed to enhance wellbeing.
The charity’s personal approach ensures that members like Lexi receive comprehensive support, tailored to their individual needs.
Since the First World War, Blesma has supported over 61,000 limbless veterans.
To find out more about Blesma and how to support their vital work, please click HERE.
