When she isn’t wheeling more than 400 kilometres from Corowa to Yass for rural mental health, Sam Longmore works in agriculture, runs several businesses and represents Australia in adaptive water skiing. The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose has already raised almost $68,000 as it makes its way across the Riverina and South West Slopes. Photo: Rural Aid.
Rain has become just another obstacle for Sam Longmore.
As showers sweep across southern NSW this week, the Yass-based small business owner continues pushing herself kilometre after kilometre in a wheelchair, refusing to let the weather derail a journey driven by one simple idea – getting country Australians talking about mental health.
Sam is making her way across the Riverina and South West Slopes as part of The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose, raising funds and awareness for rural mental health.
As of Tuesday (30 June), the campaign had raised $67,940 towards its ambitious $200,000 target.
But for Sam, the journey has never been about the money alone; it’s also about starting conversations in country towns where too many people continue to struggle in silence.
More than a decade ago, Sam’s life changed forever on two country roads north of Canberra.
Driving home along Nanima Road near Murrumbateman after days with little sleep, she fell asleep at the wheel and her vehicle rolled.
Less than an hour later, while being transported to hospital, the ambulance carrying her was involved in a second crash on the Barton Highway.
The combined trauma left her with a spinal cord injury and paralysis down the right-hand side of her body.
Many people would have accepted that life would never be the same. Instead, Sam rebuilt hers.
Today she is one of Australia’s leading adaptive water skiers, representing Australia at the Disabled Water Ski World Championships and winning world championship medals while challenging perceptions of what people living with disability can achieve.
Away from the water, Sam returned to agriculture, built several businesses – including an agricultural contracting enterprise and a mobile bar service – and has became a sought-after motivational speaker, encouraging others to rethink what’s possible after adversity.
But now she’s pounding the bitumen.
The Big Wheel is exactly what it sounds like – an eight-day journey of more than 400 kilometre from Corowa to Yass, with Sam pushing every metre in her everyday wheelchair.
She set off from Corowa on 27 June and, as of Tuesday (30 June), was making her way between Wagga Wagga and Junee.
By the time she reaches Yass on 4 July, she will also have passed through Howlong, Albury, Culcairn, Henty, The Rock, Illabo, Cootamundra, Harden and Binalong.
Averaging about 50 kilometres a day, she’s tackling highways, country roads, hills, wind, rain, winter temperatures and traffic to raise funds and encourage conversations about mental health in rural Australia.
The inspiration came during what Sam describes as her “off” year from international competition.
Inspired by ultra-endurance runner Ned Brockmann, she began thinking about a challenge that could make a genuine difference.
One afternoon she opened the notes app on her phone and wrote down a handful of words: “The Big Wheel. Charity. Mental Health. Raise $200,000”.
Then she added another thought.
“If Ned Brockmann can run 4000 kilometres across Australia, surely I can wheel 400.”
That simple idea grew into a mission to support Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell, two organisations helping people in regional communities facing mental health challenges and hardship.
Sam says she hopes the journey reminds people to look out for one another and not be afraid to ask for help.
As she wheels through town after town, she’s supported by family, friends and volunteers travelling alongside her, while locals have joined sections of the route, donated to the cause and cheered her on despite the wet weather; from farmers slowing their tractors to wave, to motorists sounding their horns and strangers stopping to offer encouragement.
Communities are also rallying ahead of her arrival, encouraging residents to line the streets, wave her into town and help spread the message behind the campaign.
In Harden, organisers have called on the community to be at the gates of McLean Oval on Thursday afternoon to give Sam a warm country welcome as she pushes towards the finish line and a community celebration at Yass racecourse.
For Sam, the growing support is proof the challenge has become about much more than one woman pushing a wheelchair.
Want to support The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose?
Donations can be made via the official mycause fundraising page.
You can also follow Sam’s progress through the OhhBulldust Facebook and Instagram pages as she completes the final days of the challenge.
If you or someone you know needs help, you can contact:Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line – 13 11 14Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467Kids Helpline – 1800 551 800 or kidshelpline.com.auMensLine Australia – 1300 789 978.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.