114: Sam Longmore _ The Big Wheel journey

Some people inspire you. Others leave you completely lost for words.

In this very special episode, we follow the extraordinary journey of Sam Longmore as she takes on The Big Wheel — wheeling herself an incredible 441 kilometres over eight days using just one side of her body.

Through rain, strong winds, steep hills, traffic and countless obstacles, Sam's determination never wavered. But this journey was never about personal glory. Sam undertook this monumental challenge to raise money and awareness for mental health, putting others before herself every step — and wheel — of the way.

We first meet Sammy as she prepares to leave Corowa, NSW, surrounded by family, friends and supporters. From there, we check in throughout her journey, sharing the highs, the lows, the laughter, the tears and the extraordinary grit required to keep moving forward.

Finally, we join the incredible scenes at the finish line, where an emotional and electric crowd welcomes home one very special human being.

This episode is about courage. It's about kindness. It's about determination. And it's about what can happen when one person decides to do something extraordinary for others.

Thank you, Sammy, for sharing your story.

Donations can be made through My Cause – The Big Wheel.

If this episode raises concerns for you or someone you know, support is available. In Australia, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Transcript

SPEAKER_05 0:00

Live big would be dead to quit one There are going to be hills in every journey and every path that you walk but you will 110% get over the top of them.

SPEAKER_13 0:18

How do you introduce someone who's just done something seemingly impossible? I've been searching for the right words to describe Sam Longmore and honestly I still haven't found them. Over eight days, Sam has wheeled herself 441 kilometres using just one side of her body through rain, through headwinds, uphills, past traffic, potholes, and every challenge you could imagine. And she's done it all for other people. Through the big wheel, Sam is raising money and awareness for mental health, proving what determination, courage and kindness can achieve. And if you can, Google My Cause, the Big Wheel.

SPEAKER_01 1:04

Any donation would go a long way. I think as someone who's really strong, really empowered, and is changing rural communities for the better.

SPEAKER_13 1:14

This episode is a little different. We first catch up with Sammy just before she rolls out of Corawa, New South Wales, with an incredible crowd there to send her off. There's excitement, there's nerves, and a real buzz in the air.

SPEAKER_08 1:29

She's an amazing person, and you know, these these people don't come into your life very often.

SPEAKER_13 1:33

We then check in with Sam a few times throughout her journey, hearing the highs, the lows, the emotion, and the sheer grit it takes to keep going.

SPEAKER_05 1:43

She's in a tough morning, let me tell you that. Road's not ideal, she's a bit rough.

SPEAKER_13 1:47

And finally, we're there at the finish line. The atmosphere is electric. There are cheers, there are tears, laughter, and a moment that nobody who witnessed it will ever forget. Words might fail me when it comes to describing Sam Longmore, but one thing is certain she is one seriously incredible human being. This is Sam's story.

SPEAKER_05 2:15

Good morning, Sammy. Morning! This is the day. We're here, we made it, we got here. Well done. How are you feeling? I'm actually feeling really good. Yesterday I was very nervous, um, like sick to my stomach nervous, but today I feel good.

SPEAKER_13 2:27

You've had a massive week. You've had media all over you. Have you had any sleep?

unknown 2:31

No. No, I haven't.

SPEAKER_05 2:35

Some lady asked me the other day, she's like, Sam, have you been sleeping? I looked in the mirror, I was like, hmm, clearly not.

SPEAKER_13 2:41

You've had your hair done by your sister?

SPEAKER_05 2:43

Yeah, a couple of little braids. Yeah. Look like Willie Nelson.

SPEAKER_13 2:46

We're gonna have a talk to Cell in a sec.

SPEAKER_05 2:48

Yep.

SPEAKER_13 2:48

How's your training been?

SPEAKER_05 2:49

Training's been really good. Um, I did get a little bit of a back injury a few weeks ago, but that's kind of come good now too. So I'm feeling happy about that. I think that made me a little bit nervous at one point. Yeah, I'm feeling fit. I feel like I can do it.

SPEAKER_13 3:02

Have you got your spare wheels sorted?

SPEAKER_05 3:04

I do. Uh they're expensive. Cost me 400 bucks to get two new tubes, two new tires, and a couple of bearings.

SPEAKER_13 3:09

Really?

SPEAKER_05 3:10

Yes, I'm really shit my pants.

SPEAKER_13 3:11

Did you get the titanium welded?

unknown 3:13

I did.

SPEAKER_05 3:14

Yeah, and they did a great job, actually, yeah, and donated their time in doing it, which is really nice.

SPEAKER_13 3:19

Sammy looking around here this morning, like at 6 30 in the morning, you're about to take off, and you've got all these people that have got up early to come and cheer you on. How are you feeling?

SPEAKER_05 3:28

It is a little bit overwhelming, like, to try and get like feel like I have to get around to everyone and you know give them some time, which is you know, that's fine, but this is nice catching my breath for five minutes. I kind of feel bad that they're here. Like, I'm happy that they're here, but I kind of feel feel bad like you didn't have to come, like this is the least we can do for you.

SPEAKER_13 3:47

Look at what you're about to take on 441 kilometers in a wheelchair with one arm. Yeah, you got this, girl.

SPEAKER_05 3:56

I do, I do, and I've and they've talked back the rain too, which is good. I think we're still gonna get wet, but not as much. Yeah, good. Yeah, which is nice.

SPEAKER_13 4:02

Um, Sammy, you've had lots of support with not only your friends and and the public but businesses too.

SPEAKER_05 4:08

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 4:08

This morning, where are we?

SPEAKER_05 4:09

At the Koro Distilling Co. And they've backed me from the moment they reached out. They've given me 110% of their support, and Coroa have just wrapped their arms around me. It's kind of the universe doing funny things, I think. I've picked this place at random, but it's become for a reason, I think. You know, Coro have felt a lot of heartache over the last few months, and yeah, just to be able to kind of spend a bit of time with some locals over the last couple of days, and these guys just putting their everything, and Mia in particular. Mia here at the Coroa de Silinko, she is a 10 out of 10 legend. Fantastic. Yep, she's put my face on posters, and you name it. Yeah, love them.

SPEAKER_13 4:47

And publicly there's been lots of support and comments and likes, and isn't there?

SPEAKER_05 4:52

Yeah. It's I turned my phone on do not disturb about lunchtime yesterday.

unknown 4:56

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 4:57

So this week you've had lots of radio stations, you've had newspaper, various TV stations, and a current affair last night. That's pretty big.

SPEAKER_05 5:05

Yeah, it was pretty big. We watched it at the local club here in town while we're having dinner. I managed to get a TV, turn the turn the volume right up, and then uh everyone thought we were weirdos. Like, what are they doing? It's a bit rude. Um, but then by the end of it, they all clapped. Everyone else there having dinner clapped. We were like, oh my god. It was really nice, it was good.

SPEAKER_13 5:23

Sammy, I'm gonna come for a run with you tomorrow.

SPEAKER_05 5:25

Yep.

SPEAKER_13 5:25

But Sam, I just want you to know that people think you are so kind and generous, and you are doing this for the benefit of other people. Yeah. And you are gonna do this, you are gonna smash this.

SPEAKER_05 5:36

I know. I know. That's the only thing I've been telling myself. You you are going to do this, you're going to get to that finish line. I haven't sort of let another thought pop into my mind. Like, there'll be challenges, I'm very aware of that, but I'm gonna get there. I haven't looked at it any other way.

SPEAKER_13 5:53

Well, Sammy, the country's behind you. Yeah. Go, Sammy.

SPEAKER_05 5:56

Thank you, thank you so much. Let's get it done.

SPEAKER_13 5:58

G'day, Sal.

SPEAKER_05 5:58

Hello, yeah.

SPEAKER_12 5:59

Hello, good, how are you? So, what are you up to right now? I am grading Sam's hair. Gotta look pretty for the big wheel.

SPEAKER_13 6:07

And what's your job for this event?

SPEAKER_12 6:09

Um, apparently, my job is to keep her alive today.

SPEAKER_13 6:13

Who's more controlling, you or she?

SPEAKER_12 6:15

Uh, probably her. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 6:17

Tell me about Sammy. What sort of a girl is she?

SPEAKER_12 6:19

There's plenty of words for Sammy here.

SPEAKER_13 6:22

Don't swear.

SPEAKER_12 6:23

Don't swear. So, like I said, so many words for Sam here. She's the best sister, to be honest. We're like best friends. Growing up, we never really used to be. We used to fight a lot. And then I think over the last, I don't know, since we got out of our shitty teenage years, we've um become best friends. Nice. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 6:44

She's very kind, isn't she? She is, yeah. What she's doing over these next eight days.

SPEAKER_12 6:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 6:49

Who would do that? It's and it's not for the benefit of her, it's for the benefit of these other people.

SPEAKER_12 6:53

Yeah, yeah. Only Sam would do that. And if I'm being honest, I have been a little bit stressed for the last week, but as Sam said today, she I think she feels a little bit better today about it, and I think so do I. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_13 7:05

Nice. Well, good luck. Keep doing what you're doing. Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_12 7:09

Let's support Sammy. Thank you, let's do it.

SPEAKER_13 7:11

Now, Darrell, you're one of Sammy's fans, as I am. What made you come down here this morning to Korua?

SPEAKER_08 7:17

Um, I think from the from the very first podcast you did with her up at her place at Yas, I just her resilience, her bubbly nature, uh, her determination to do so well, and just to prove to people, certainly with a disability, that you can do these things. On the mental health side, um, I think we've all struggled at some stage or other. The thing there was, I've listened to a podcast, probably I've peaked out your your listens on that because I've listened to it so often. But I think she just she's infectious with that, the persona she brings and the the confidence and the and the fun in her voice. And I just think she's amazing. And and as I said to my wife the other day, I said, we've got to go down there. You don't get opportunities to meet people like this every day. She's certainly right up there as far as people that I admire, and I just think it's a massive task her doing this. And she'll do it, don't worry about that. She'll get there, and I you can just see the look in her eye here this morning that she's gonna do it. And I think there's it shows by the people that have come here today what they think of her, and and and I think it's it's a respect thing to a degree, too, that she's put a body on the line to do something. And uh yeah, no, I'm I'm great, I'm happy to be here. It's freezing cold here this morning, but we're having a heap of fun.

SPEAKER_13 8:34

She's gonna wheel 441 kilometres with the use of one arm in eight days for other people, not for her.

SPEAKER_08 8:42

And that's what I think makes her so special. She she puts herself aside. Don't worry about me, I'm gonna be alright, but she wants to help others, and yeah, it's a massive task. I just I just wish I could go with her every day and push her along and encourage her and that, but but she'll get plenty of that. She's an amazing person, and you know, these these people don't come into your life very often, and and I'm just privileged to have met someone like her.

SPEAKER_13 9:07

Nice one, mate. Now, Dean, can you tell us where we are this morning and what's happening?

SPEAKER_01 9:11

Uh we're at Corridor Solinco, so we're at the starting point of the the big wheel. So here to support uh Sammy and her big adventure. We've known her and her family for quite some time, so there's a little bit of a connection there, and also you know, just hearing her cause and her story, we always wanted to be a part of it. So uh happy to be out here on this, you know, cold morning. That's our little bit of adversity we have to face. Um, she's got plenty more, so um, our bit is uh nothing in comparison.

SPEAKER_13 9:38

And when we hear the name Sam Longmore, what what comes to mind with you?

SPEAKER_01 9:42

I think a lot more comes to mind now. So previously, before that, you know, you think, oh yeah, that's you know, a bit of an interesting story, and you know, someone who has battled through and you know really put their their best step forward there. Uh but now, after spending a lot more time with her uh recently in the last couple of days, I think as someone who's really strong, really empowered, and is changing rural communities for the better. Because even if you look inside here at the starting line here, you know, it's it's minus two out here this morning, and there's a 15-year-old boy who heard her talk on Thursday night, and he dragged his parents along to be here at the starting point. So that sort of you know effort I see as changing everything for the better. If that she can do that once, she can do that a hundred times over. So that's what I think of now. Someone that's really changing the world for the the better and uh shining a light on you know areas that we all need to be better at.

SPEAKER_13 10:38

Yeah, you haven't slipped anything delicious into her coffee cup this morning to keep her warm, have you?

SPEAKER_01 10:42

Oh, look, it's probably a little bit too early for a little bit of jet fuel in the uh in her coffee, but um, we certainly pack some along the journey for her. Um, you know, if our extra motivation is putting a bottle of whiskey in her uh in her truck on the way through, uh we're all for that as well.

SPEAKER_13 10:57

And tell me about your business, mate. This is quite a successful business you've got here with some great products.

SPEAKER_01 11:02

Oh, thank you. It's um, you know, we we base ourselves uh in Coroa in the community. Um we are very much a rural community. We make everything, you know, from what farmers deliver to us. You know, we just want to be a part of you know that little success story in our little community here and love where you live. So uh Coroa's the best place on earth that you could possibly live. Why wouldn't you want to live here? But yeah, we we love what we do. Legend.

SPEAKER_13 11:26

Thank you, mate.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

No worries, thanks for having us.

SPEAKER_13 11:28

I'm here with Josh, another fan. How did you first hear about Sam?

SPEAKER_09 11:31

Through the footy club. So she came down Thursday, uh, had a talk to us, the footy club here, we had dinner, and yeah, just so inspiring and just amazing what she's doing today. Can't believe it to be honest. It's inspired me a lot, that's for sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 11:45

And you decided this morning you'd get up at 5 30 and drag your parents out of bed too?

SPEAKER_09 11:49

Yeah, that's the least I could do, definitely. Like, yeah, me getting up early in the morning um when she's doing what she's doing for the next few days. That's the least I could do is get up early and come here. So thanks for supporting her, Josh. Thank you.

SPEAKER_13 12:02

G'day Jude, how are you, mate? Well, thanks, Darren, and yourself. Yeah, so you're Sammy's partner, and uh, how does this feel for you, mate? Like you've seen what she's gone through so far leading up, especially in this last week.

SPEAKER_06 12:12

Yeah, yeah. It's uh very impressive. I don't really know how to explain Sam. She's very headstrong. Once she puts her her mind to it, she's just she's just in it. She just you can't, there's no stopping her. As everyone always says, she's a a very big inspiration, uh, and she is. No, she'll she'll smash it. She's been getting lots of love from all around the country this last week in particular. Yeah, no, she has, yeah, no, it's been great. The traction, I suppose, was a bit slow at the start, uh, but the last couple of days and last probably ten days, yeah, it started to take off. And yeah, got great people behind her. At home, mate, what sort of person is she? Exactly the same as what you've seen her. Yeah, she's uh can't stop. She's been saying, I'm not doing anything like this again, but I can nearly guarantee it's in her, she's got it in her head, yeah, planning what she's gonna do next.

SPEAKER_13 13:07

Yeah. Alright, Jude, well uh let's go and support Sammy. Thanks, mate. Yeah, absolutely. Thank you. Steve, where are you from and why are you here?

SPEAKER_07 13:15

I'm from Lockhart. I represent Riverina Bluebell, which is basically a Wagga-based, but generally Riverina charity. Riverina's a fairly big place, and we cover most of it. Yeah, luckily for us, uh Sam has chosen us as one of the beneficiaries of this exercise, and uh we support her 100%, so that's why I'm here today.

SPEAKER_13 13:33

And Riverina Bluebell is out there supporting lots of other people. Can you tell me about that?

SPEAKER_07 13:37

Well, we're a mental health awareness group, and uh what our aim is just to get people to feel comfortable starting the conversation. Yeah, admitting they've got an issue and talking to somebody. And that's all it takes. Um yeah, that first step is is particularly difficult for most people until they do it and then they realize it was not that hard after all. It's a tough gig uh because a lot of people live in denial. But awareness like stuff like Sam does, get it out in the open, you know, get people talking.

SPEAKER_13 14:07

This morning we're here at the start line, and Sam has just left Korowa to head for yas over eight days.

SPEAKER_07 14:13

It's a crazy, in incredible effort. I couldn't drive that far in a day sometimes.

SPEAKER_13 14:19

But uh I don't think anyone else could do it other than Sam.

SPEAKER_07 14:23

No, like for someone to put in that effort and the commitment that it takes to actually and the willpower, given the issues that Sam's had to deal with, to be able to come up with something like this. I know she's an incredible person, but this is just over the top.

SPEAKER_13 14:36

What do we say to our listeners here? Jump online to my cause, Google, the big wheel.

SPEAKER_07 14:42

Yeah, give her all the support possible because you know she's supporting a great cause. Mental health is a real problem everywhere, but especially in the bush. And this river in our area is particularly, you know, it's one of the highest suicide rates in the country. And it's mostly young men. Not all, but mostly, 80%. Yeah, it's very good that it's happening in this area. Hopefully it'll it'll raise awareness in this area and get people on the move, you know.

SPEAKER_13 15:11

Absolutely. All right, so thank you, mate, and uh go, Sammy.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

So I'm from Rural Aid, um up in Brisbane in the head office there, but as we're a national charity, we cover all across the country. So yeah, I was lucky enough to be able to be here to see Sam off.

SPEAKER_13 15:25

Can you tell me a bit about your organisation?

SPEAKER_00 15:28

Yeah, sure. So Rural Aid is a charity that is works specifically with farmers, farming families, and farm workers in rural Australia. And working with them, we've we've got two teams really. So we've got the mental health and wellbeing team, which I'm the manager of, and we've got the disaster assistance team. So helping out farmers with practical assistance like hay, fodder, domestic water, financial assistance if they've been impacted by disasters, and then the mental health and well-being, of course, with counsellors that are that are across the country.

SPEAKER_13 16:01

What do you think of Sammy's effort? Already this week, what she's doing, she's made a big difference.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

She has, she has, and it's people like Sam that we are just so grateful for, and that we that's what we do the work for is to see and to raise that awareness because really there's still it's it's better, but there's still a lot of stigma around mental health, particularly in rural communities. So being able to raise the awareness and say, hey, it's okay to talk, it's okay to ask for help, get out there and do it. She's just incredible. We can't believe that we've been lucky enough to be able to partner with her.

SPEAKER_13 16:34

Okay, Sammy. Yeah. Thanks, move. Well, I'm here with Chloe Keighley. How are you, Chloe? And what are you up to?

SPEAKER_11 16:40

I'm good. Yeah, we're up bright and early this morning, um, ready to go for the push this morning. And yeah, Sam's starting from here. I'm tagging along for the entire eight days, and I'm I guess technically a content person. Um, the goal is to film for a documentary that we'll make after, and yeah, just be there for photos, videos, and anything else Sam needs me to be there for. So, yeah.

SPEAKER_13 17:07

Why are you doing this?

SPEAKER_11 17:09

I just think Sam is a very inspiring person, obviously. I think like a lot of us. And yeah, I guess I grew up water skiing as well, and that's where the connection is for us. She's just like super, super inspiring, and honestly, just like a great person. Like, I want to be here for the eight days. Like, I want to just be hanging out with her and yeah, being there for like all the all the highs and lows, but she's just awesome, and yeah, I'm so stoked to be here.

SPEAKER_13 17:32

Well, thank you, Chloe, for what you're doing and documenting this. This is awesome. And have a great eight days. Yeah, and we'll see you probably tomorrow. I'm gonna come for a run with you tomorrow. Yeah, sweet, and uh see you at the finishing line. So good luck, thanks, Chloe.

SPEAKER_11 17:44

No, thank you.

unknown 17:46

Hi Sam!

SPEAKER_04 17:48

Hi Sam! Um we've got about 15Ks of the day to go. We've currently done just over 44. We ran 46k.

SPEAKER_05 17:55

Sammy, day two, how does this feel? It feels good. Took me a little while to get calm, but I feel good.

SPEAKER_13 18:00

Yeah, how was the whole day yesterday?

SPEAKER_05 18:02

Most of the day was pretty good. Um, weather was really nice. The last sort of eight to ten c's suck absolute ass.

SPEAKER_14 18:11

You had hills.

SPEAKER_05 18:12

Five of them in a row.

SPEAKER_14 18:14

Were they a surprise yesterday?

SPEAKER_05 18:15

Yeah, they were. I anticipated them, but I thought I wouldn't be too bad by the time I got there, but I'd just done like 52ks and then hit 10 c's of hills. We overtook you in the car and you were flying along. I felt good in some smooth tar type areas. But then after how long, there was just terrible, rough tar, so it just took a whole heap more pushing.

SPEAKER_13 18:39

So yesterday you had a big crowd to see you. I had that feeling there's lots of emotion and love in there.

SPEAKER_05 18:44

There was. I was just saying I felt like I wanted to be more like, yeah, like pump, jacked up, that kind of thing. And then when I come onto the walking track and I saw everyone now, I just started blubbering like a big baby. Well, we were sort of half excited and half emotional with you.

SPEAKER_02 18:58

Alright, we're just outside of Albert on the Georgie Road. How are you feeling, Sammy?

SPEAKER_05 19:02

Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good now after a break and a mouth of a coffee.

SPEAKER_02 19:05

You got up early?

SPEAKER_05 19:07

Yeah, probably not early enough.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

And how's the traffic been?

SPEAKER_05 19:10

Uh the traffic's been pretty good. Everyone's been, for the most part, really nice and accommodating. No one's sworn at me yet, so it's good. Ten out of ten.

SPEAKER_02 19:19

You're getting a few toots?

SPEAKER_05 19:21

Few toots, for your toots along the way, it's always nice.

SPEAKER_02 19:24

And you've got Nathan and Emily here running with you as well. This is pretty cool.

SPEAKER_05 19:27

Yeah, they're from New South Wales Ski Team.

SPEAKER_02 19:29

You're a champion. You've got the whole world behind you, Sammy. Alright, Sammy, good luck.

SPEAKER_05 19:34

Thank you. I'll need it, that's for sure.

SPEAKER_10 19:38

Good morning, Nathan. Good morning. You've come from where? We're at Mawala now. So we just drove um Joe through to Aubrey this morning and thought we'd catch up with Sam and give her a bit of a sport and have a bit of a run this morning. That's unreal. Why did you want to do this for Sam? Well, we've known Sam for a few years. We met Sam in Canberra, I guess about three or four years ago, at a water ski tournament. We catch up at various tournaments and um found out she was going to do this and wanted to uh show our support and also it's a a cause close to our heart. We uh we uh we've been farming and have had to deal with mental health, so it's um an amazing cause. So we just wanted to show our support, yeah.

SPEAKER_13 20:29

That's awesome, Nathan, and like what a girl. She's doing this for the goodness of other people.

SPEAKER_10 20:34

I know, it's amazing, and she's a real goer, and what an amazing attitude to have. Quite incredible.

SPEAKER_13 20:41

Absolutely. Thanks, Nathan. Enjoy the run.

SPEAKER_10 20:44

Yeah, thank you.

SPEAKER_14 20:46

Well, it's the morning of day three. I've chased Sammy down. She's north of Henty. Massive day yesterday. Hey she is good, Sammy.

SPEAKER_05 20:56

How you going?

SPEAKER_14 20:57

How are you going today?

SPEAKER_05 20:59

Oh yeah, she's in a tough morning, let me tell you that. Road's not ideal, she's a bit rough, so we've done a done a wheelchair changeover, so I've got some bigger front wheels to help me kind of navigate the bitumen.

SPEAKER_02 21:11

And so is the like the rocks in the bitumen a bit bigger or something?

SPEAKER_05 21:15

Yeah, so less actual tar, more rock, which with with the little wheels of my normal wheelchair, like little front wheels, a lot of friction gets created. Um, and it just makes for really tough pushing.

SPEAKER_02 21:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 21:30

And I just don't need that at the moment.

SPEAKER_02 21:35

Tell me about yesterday, Sam Day 2. That was monumental.

SPEAKER_05 21:39

Yeah, so nearly nearly cracked 66 Ks. I think we were like two or three hundred metres off 66Ks yesterday. Decided to rather than pull up in coal can keep coming to Henti, so it ended up being another, you know, uh, by the time I got to the footy oval at Henti, about 19 odd Ks on top of what we're originally gonna do. But Got me ahead a bit. Hopefully, a little bit further ahead of the weather. It's fresher.

SPEAKER_02 22:06

Are you sleeping? Not really. The will stop home in your semi.

SPEAKER_05 22:11

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 22:14

We're approaching another hill. I'm gonna let you knuckle down and get this done.

SPEAKER_05 22:18

Thank you.

SPEAKER_13 22:25

Sammy, I can't believe it. Congratulations. Thank you. Yeah. I've been trying to find the right words to start this segment off with you, and I have got no words. How can you describe what you've just done?

SPEAKER_05 22:37

I can't, not yet. It feels really funny, you know. Like, I know I've just wheeled over 400 kilometres over the course of the last eight days and through all of the different weather elements and all of that kind of thing, but I feel like that's just what I've done. I'm not feeling yet the magnitude of what everyone else is saying. And I know we've raised a shit ton of money in that time, and we've brought communities together and people together, and I've heard lots of stories along the road, but I'm still yet to kind of feel it for what everyone's saying it is.

SPEAKER_13 23:09

It's pretty big. Yeah. I've seen the love right around the country and the emotion you've brought to people too. But they're going through this, I think, for you. Like, I've seen a little bit of your your efforts on some hills and so forth, and I've only seen a tiny bit. I've tried to use the words gruelling, but no one will know how gruelling it was other than you.

SPEAKER_05 23:29

Yeah, and it and it was like when they say things like this are a mental game, um, it really is like it was physically demanding for me for eight days straight. But for being a person that constantly thinks and plans and creates and you know always has like a new idea or a new thing to do, to not be able to, you know, I have had 50 million thoughts throughout the week, and I have not been able to grasp hold of one of them and actually think about it. Then the only thing I've been thinking about is breathe, push, kick, white line, rock, the trucks, the cars, better wave to that person, make sure you smile, um, even when you don't want to, you know. And it's been very interesting because I really thought that I'd come off the back of it with like, oh my god, these huge big epiphanies, you know, maybe they will come, you know. I know now that I can do anything. Like, I thought I knew that already, but I know now that I can do anything. And I know it was only 400 odd Ks, but like, yeah, it's 400 odd Ks with only half of my body.

SPEAKER_13 24:34

That's extraordinary. You said to me in our last chat, you said you believe your mind will take your body to where it needs to be, because I don't think any body could do what you've just done, but it was your mind that got you through.

SPEAKER_05 24:48

Yeah, 100%, and that's exactly what has happened. Yeah, I really didn't think after you know climbing the hill off the back of the mad mile in June E that the next four days after that were actually gonna be achievable. Like I had a really good morning out of June E on the Wednesday morning, got to Illibo, felt me and Barks, and then I had a really shit run from Illibo to Bathungra, and I think it was because my mind was in the belief that I wasn't gonna be able to do Bathungra Hill or Frampton Siding Hill. And I did have bald my eyes out, like just with pure fear, but I think it was fear for the first time that I wasn't backing myself, and then I was like, oh you fucking gotta keep going you're halfway now, and yeah, smash Bathungra, smash Frampton, part way up Frampton. I was I couldn't stop because if I stopped I would have ended up back down at the bottom, and I was, I was pushing up the hill, bawling my eyes out, just because I I just wasn't sure what was you know, and then I just found I don't know what it was, like a a turbo, a a second low or something, and just drove, and then I thought, nah, you've got this, and with every hue it became a little easier, funnily enough.

SPEAKER_13 26:08

I've been trying to think of who else in the world has done something like this, and I I can't find it. But you had wind, you had crosswinds, you were doing this with one arm, one foot, you had trucks and traffic, as you say, potholes, rain, rain, sunshine, yeah, freezing cold, it was everything, slippery roads. And I saw some nights here coming in with it was dark, you had lights and flashing lights and everything else, but then I could see this momentum building of this wave of this engine behind you, of people and kids running out of the car and coming to join you for that last little stretch. How did that feel?

SPEAKER_05 26:44

Amazing because, like, I don't know whether it was I felt like I had to put on a show or something coming into a town, or whether I just legitimately found that little bit of adrenaline or that little bit of energy that enabled me to just punch into a town, like full noise, like coming into Cudamundra, or coming into all of the towns, like coming into Juni and you know, doing the Mad Mile Hill, and then still being able to get from there to the chocolate factory was my energy, but also, yeah, it was the vibes, it was the energy pushing me from everyone behind, and then coming into Cuda in the rain and the lights, and yeah, like full noise every single time coming like up through the main street of Harden, which is just as bad as DeMondrell Hill, coming before Harden, and I just did not stop the whole time, and I had all these kids around me, and you know, family of people that we've lost in our life there, just felt so nice, and having yeah, creating these conversations and these kids just frothing it that was really great, and like kids learning about me in school.

SPEAKER_13 27:55

Yeah, well, we talked about today too, like uh the impact you've had on kids alone to show that people with a physical disability, what they can achieve is huge. Yeah, and I think that flow on effect that you've just created will keep happening. So you're raising money for mental health in rural areas. And I've said all week, you're doing this huge eight days all for the benefit of other people. Not you, it's for other people.

SPEAKER_05 28:20

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely. And it's not just mental health, you know, like it's been so much more than that. It's getting people out of their home, it's getting people reconnecting with with new people. It's yeah, getting kids to realize that, you know, the new kid that rocks up at the school that might have a disability is not the odd one out because they can do so much more than what they first see. Yeah, it it's really amazing. Like I've heard so many incredible stories along the road of people who have struggled and people have come with me who have then opened up about something that they are struggling with, and it is just the open road, it is fresh, wide open spaces, and they then have space to do that, and there's no judgment, you know, because we're both doing the same thing. Yeah, I really hope in time I'll kind of it'll all just kind of sink in. I'll look back through, you know, my phone, through the pictures, through the videos, you know, and and in time, once this film is created and put together, yeah, that I'll feel it a bit more. Um it's today's been overwhelming.

SPEAKER_13 29:25

Yeah. We don't know what you've just gone through yourself. And I don't think you have any idea on what impact you've had on all these other people and people with mental health. I've run into people during the weekend, they'll cry in front of me. Grown men, we've had today people from Ballarat drive up to see you. They've you've never met them before, no, to see you across the finishing line, they've fallen apart watching you. Yeah, it's been emotional for us outsiders, which is nothing, but yeah, it must be hugely emotional for you.

SPEAKER_05 29:53

100%, and it's been really hard. Like, I haven't given myself uh uh the time to you know take a breath or celebrate or realise anything just yet, but I've had that myself along the road, is that people just breaking down, falling on me, you're a hero, you're this, and I just don't see myself as that. Like I said, I just have the ability, had the ability to help, had the time to help and the drive to want to do something for other people, but also for myself. Like um, this is the first time I've had a breather in a little while, funnily enough, and I've just you know, it really is. It's I've taken the week.

SPEAKER_13 30:28

You are a hero, Sam.

SPEAKER_05 30:29

It's not the holiday I probably needed, but um it was a holiday that I had the chance to give myself.

SPEAKER_13 30:35

So going back a week, what would you say to the Sam eight days ago?

SPEAKER_05 30:39

It's not gonna take as long as what it feels like. It's gonna No, I told myself what I needed to hear, and that was see at the finish line.

SPEAKER_13 30:47

And if you got a just a quick message to someone who might be struggling right now, what would you say to them?

SPEAKER_05 30:52

There are going to be hills in every journey and every path that you walk, but you will 110% get over the top of them, and there will be another one, and you'll get over the top of that too. It's just about how much you actually want to be happy.

SPEAKER_13 31:08

Thank you. Sammy, I've got just a couple of very quick off-the-wall questions. What do you want to say to hills and headwinds right now?

SPEAKER_05 31:16

Yeah, get absolutely fucked. Fuck you, fuck this, fuck that, scream.

SPEAKER_13 31:23

As I said, Sammy, you've got a license to swear. What's one thing you didn't wear for the entire trip that might surprise us?

SPEAKER_05 31:31

Underwear. And for three quarters of the trip, I also did not wear a bra. Oh, really? No, bra gave me a big open wound. Um rubbing. So I've been rocking rocking a skin's chair. And do you know what? The freedom. Yeah. Oh I've been free-balling times two.

SPEAKER_13 31:49

All right, what's hurting most right now?

SPEAKER_05 31:52

Oh honestly, everything. I have not been honest throughout the entire week. I have had a sore, sore foot, few things going on with my foot. My whole body. Yeah, my whole body actually hurts. Like every part of it, from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, my spine's been torsioned, my arm, and I still have to try and get on and off the toilet in and out of the shower and and and just get around. It fucking sucks. I've had max out at about two and a half hours sleep every night. My lips, I'm windburnt, I got a cold sore four days ago, and I haven't had one in years. But my head is happy.

SPEAKER_13 32:30

Yeah, it's extraordinary.

SPEAKER_05 32:31

Yeah.

SPEAKER_13 32:32

Sammy, we all loved you before you did this, and we love you a whole lot more now. Thank you so much. Thank you, Sammy.

SPEAKER_10 32:39

Thank you, thank you.

SPEAKER_13 32:40

Oh, I've got to do it.

SPEAKER_03 32:42

Thank you. But we never miss a chance to have time.

SPEAKER_13 32:47

Oh, what can you say? Sam Longmore, thank you. Thank you for opening up, for sharing your story, and for allowing us to be part of this extraordinary journey. What you've achieved is monumental, not for yourself, but for others. You are kind, caring, generous, determined, and unbelievably courageous. I've spent this entire episode trying to find the right words to describe you. And honestly, I still don't think they exist. So perhaps the simplest words are the best ones. Thank you, Sam Longmore. You are an extraordinary human being. And if you can, Google My Cause the Big Wheel. Any donation would go a long way.