Woman travels 440km in wheelchair to help rural mental health

By Annie Brown

ABC Rural

Topic: Mental Health

Wednesday, 1 July 2026, at 11:03 am

Sam Longmore wants to raise $200,000 for mental health help.

In short:

Sam Longmore is traveling 440km in her wheelchair to raise money for rural mental health.

She was hurt in a car crash in 2013 and wants to help people who are struggling.

What's next?

Sam Longmore will finish her trip from Corowa to Yass on July 4.

She is pushing her wheelchair a long way, over 400km, in just over a week.

Sam Longmore is doing this to raise money for rural mental health, pushing herself with only one hand and one foot.

She was paralyzed on one side of her body after a car crash nearly 13 years ago.

It has been hard for her, but she is doing it to help others.

Sam Longmore started her trip on Saturday morning.

Many people came to cheer her on at the start of her trip, called 'The Big Wheel'.

She is traveling about 50km each day.

Sam Longmore wants to talk to people and show them they are not alone.

In rural areas, people can feel lonely and isolated.

Sam Longmore had a car crash in 2013 while driving home from work.

The ambulance she was in also crashed, which was very unlucky.

Sam Longmore is traveling 50km each day in her wheelchair.

She had two car crashes on the same road in a short time.

Sam Longmore was hurt in the car crash and is paralyzed on one side.

She has no feeling or movement on her right side, from her collarbone to her toes.

Sam Longmore has her own businesses.

Despite her disability, Sam Longmore runs several businesses and is a champion water skier.

She even broke her paralyzed leg while water skiing this year.

Sam Longmore is a world champion water skier.

Rural mental health

Sam Longmore wants to raise $200,000 for rural mental health services.

Myf Pitcher from Rural Aid says Sam Longmore is an inspiration.

Myf Pitcher thinks Sam Longmore is a very inspiring woman.

Myf Pitcher says Sam Longmore understands the pressures of farming and rural life.

People think farmers are strong, but they face many challenges.

Farmers have to deal with many things they can't control, like the weather and government decisions.

If you need help:

Steve Matthews from Riverina Bluebell says mental health is a big issue in the region.

The Riverina has a high rate of suicide, which is very sad.

Steve Matthews says people need to talk about mental health to make it easier to address.

Talking about mental health makes it less taboo and easier to deal with.

Steve Matthews and Myf Pitcher were in Corowa to support Sam Longmore.

Sam Longmore hopes her trip will encourage people to get help when they need it.

No matter how hard things seem, you can get through them.

Talk to your friends, keep people close, and you can do difficult things.

Sam Longmore will finish her trip in Yass on July 4.

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