Former soldier completes extraordinary Alpe d'Huez wheelchair ascent ahead of world-first USA challenge

Just the day before the world's greatest cyclists tackled the legendary ascent during the Tour de France, former British Army soldier Lexi Chambers completed her own remarkable journey up Alpe d'Huez, propelling herself from the foot of the mountain to the summit using a standard manual wheelchair.

The 13.8-kilometre climb, featuring 21 iconic hairpin bends and an average gradient of around 8 per cent, is regarded as one of the most demanding ascents in world cycling. For Chambers, who lives with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and fibromyalgia, it represented another significant milestone in a much bigger journey.

The climb forms part of her preparation for End2EndUSA27, an ambitious attempt to become the first person to propel a standard manual wheelchair 4,812.2 kilometres across the United States, travelling from San Diego, California, to Daytona Beach, Florida.

The crossing is expected to cover approximately 115 marathon-length days over almost four months.

Chambers joined the Army as a young soldier before developing severe and persistent pain that ultimately led to multiple surgeries and the diagnosis of CRPS. After years of treatment, she chose to undergo a below-knee amputation in the hope of regaining mobility. Despite the surgery, the condition persisted, leaving her dependent on a wheelchair.

Rather than allowing those circumstances to define her, Chambers has committed herself to taking on increasingly demanding endurance challenges while raising awareness and funds in support of military and veteran communities. The End2EndUSA27 campaign is being financially enabled by Team Forces, a collaborative charity that strengthens support for former members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Fundraising across the End2EndUSA27 campaign will first seek to cover the agreed costs Team Forces has committed to delivering the challenge. Beyond that point, Chambers' ambition is for the remaining funds raised to create a charitable benefit for military and veteran communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

The Alpe d'Huez ascent attracted encouragement from spectators lining the famous climb, with footage of the challenge subsequently reaching a global audience through social media. One video documenting the ascent has already generated more than 3.8 million views and 260,000 likes, with related posts and reels taking the campaign's reach beyond four million views in a month, introducing thousands of new supporters to both Chambers' story and the wider End2EndUSA27 campaign.

The challenge has also attracted the support of a growing number of organisations from the worlds of sport, business and performance, all helping Chambers prepare for what is expected to be one of the most demanding endurance wheelchair expeditions ever attempted.

With Alpe d'Huez now behind her, attention turns to the preparations for End2EndUSA27, where Chambers hopes not only to complete a world-first crossing of the United States but also to generate substantial fundraising in support of military and veteran communities in the United Kingdom and the United States, and inspire others to rethink what is possible when determination replaces limitation.