One woman, one wheelchair and 441 kilometres of country roads. Sam Longmore’s Big Wheel challenge sparked a wave of support for rural mental health across southern NSW. Photo: Samantha Longmore.
Sam Longmore’s 441-kilometre wheelchair journey has rolled to an emotional finish, raising more than $175,000 for rural mental health and sparking a wave of support across southern NSW.
The Yass disability advocate crossed the finish line on Saturday (4 July), completing ‘The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose’ after wheeling from Corowa to Yass in her everyday wheelchair through successive rain fronts, biting winter temperatures and long stretches of country highways.
The challenge and accompanying charity auction have raised more than $175,000 and counting for Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell, falling just short of the campaign’s ambitious $200,000 target, although donations continue to roll in.
For Sam, the challenge was never just about raising money; it was about encouraging conversation and connection in rural communities, reinforcing a simple message that one conversation at the right time can change everything.
“I just wanted to help. I had the ability to help. We all can help,” she said.
“I took on this challenge to raise awareness of rural mental health and to support the work being done by Rural Aid in rural communities.
“One small thing each day can make a real difference to everyday Australians.”
The funds raised will help deliver mental health outreach, counselling for farming families, emergency relief during drought, fire and flood and community wellbeing programs across rural and remote Australia.
Sam’s journey began in Corowa on 27 June and took her through more than 20 communities, including Albury, Wagga Wagga, Junee, Cootamundra, Harden and Binalong before finishing in Yass.
But what began as one woman’s personal challenge soon took on a life of its own as word spread the old-fashioned way, only faster.
Social media became the new bush telegraph, with Facebook and Instagram pages lighting up as Sam approached each town, with community groups, sporting clubs, schools and businesses encouraging locals to come out, donate or walk a few kilometres beside her.
Between towns, Sam often travelled alone, but the support never stopped.
Motorists sounded their horns as they drove past; farmers slowed their tractors to wave; fence-sitting livestock blinked; and complete strangers pulled over to offer words of encouragement.
By the final days, each community seemed to hand the baton to the next, and The Big Wheel no longer belonged solely to Sam.
It had become a movement embraced by the communities that carried her towards the finish line.
Sam says that support didn’t go unnoticed.
“Although I spent the majority of the time on the road on my own, this didn’t happen just because of me,” she said, “there was a team, there was a community behind me getting here today.”
CEO of Rural Aid John Warlters said Sam’s achievement reflected both remarkable endurance and a deep commitment to rural Australia.
“What Sam has achieved is an outstanding effort,” he said.
Mr Warlters said the challenge had also created important conversations along the route, with every wave, roadside chat and shared story helping draw attention to the pressures facing people in rural and remote communities.
For Sam, who rebuilt her life after sustaining a spinal cord injury in two crashes north of Canberra more than a decade ago, crossing the finish line marked the end of one challenge rather than the end of the story.
Donations to The Big Wheel: Push for Purpose remain open via the official mycause fundraising page, with proceeds supporting the rural mental health work of Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell.
Original Article published by Edwina Mason on About Regional.