‘I can’t wait to celebrate’: Samantha Longmore begins final push home

THIS morning, Samantha Longmore will set out on the final stretch of a journey that has inspired communities, sparked countless conversations and united people across the Riverina and beyond.

For seven straight mornings, Sam has climbed into her everyday wheelchair, ignored a body begging her to stop and pushed on through relentless pain, rain, freezing temperatures and some of the toughest hills southern New South Wales could throw at her.

Bilaterally paralysed following a devastating traffic accident more than a decade ago, she’s done it all with just one functioning arm and one leg.

Today, she’ll ask it for one final effort.

Image: Supplied

By this afternoon, Sam will roll into Yass, where hundreds of supporters will gather to celebrate the completion of one of the most extraordinary fundraising challenges the Riverina has witnessed.

For the first time in more than a week, she’ll finally be able to stop.

“I’m just really excited to have the community together,” Sam told The Junee Bulletin late on Friday.

“I’m looking forward to celebrating… having a beer with friends and patting my dog.”

But before the applause, the hugs and the celebrations, one final challenge remains.

Sam was given an RFS escort into the town Bowning on Friday night | Image: Supplied

One last road

Sam was due to return to Bowning about 8.30am on Saturday after spending Friday night at the Royal Tara Motel in nearby Binalong, where she was taken following the completion of Day 7.

From there, she’ll follow Walls Junction Road before joining Lachlan Valley Way under a police escort.

The escort will remain with her as she navigates a short section of the Hume Highway before exiting towards Yass.

Original plans to complete several laps around the riverside walking track at Victoria Park have been abandoned after recent rain left the area flooded.

Instead, supporters will join Sam as she rolls through Yass before she completes the final symbolic two-kilometre journey to Yass Racecourse alone, a moment she says is important to experience by herself.

“I’ll do the last bit out to Yass Racecourse by myself,” she said.

“I think that’s quite important.”

Image: Instagram/hardenhawks

Hundreds of people are expected to gather at the racecourse from about 2pm, where food, drinks, live music and family entertainment will accompany the finish celebrations.

Thousands of dollars worth of raffle prizes and auction items will also be drawn as fundraising continues in support of Rural Aid and Riverina Bluebell.

Organisers expect to provide a clearer indication of Sam’s arrival time once she is on the road and approaching Yass.

‘My whole body is screaming at me’

To supporters lining the roads each afternoon, Sam has appeared remarkably upbeat.

Behind the smiles, however, has been a very different story.

Speaking candidly with The Junee Bulletin on Friday night, she admitted she had deliberately downplayed the physical toll the challenge has taken.

“I haven’t really been honest with anyone about how my body is actually feeling,” she said.

“My body feels like it’s constantly wheeling. I feel like I’ve just got this persistent rocking going on.”

By the time Sam reaches Yass this afternoon, she’ll have spent almost an entire working week battling relentless pain.

A quick physio session at the Jail Brake Inn cafe before the final push into Junee on Tuesday, June 30 | Image © The Junee Bulletin

It wasn’t always obvious.

Every afternoon she smiled for photographs, thanked supporters and waved to crowds.

Behind the scenes, however, she admits her body has been “screaming” at her to stop.

“I’ve enjoyed it immensely, but I’ve been dealing with just pain since Monday,” she said.

“It almost tortures you because that’s all you think about.

“Then you’ve got everyone asking, ‘How was today? How are you feeling?’

“And I just tell them, ‘I’m fine. I’m great. Foot hurts a bit. But I’m fine.’

“When actually my whole body is screaming at me to stop.”

Severe oedema has developed through one leg and around her ankle, yet Sam remains determined to see the challenge through.

“It’ll be fine,” she said.

“I just have to get through today and then I’ll put the feet up for a little while.”

Every day had its own finish line

Although each afternoon ended with cheering crowds and celebrations, Sam admits she never really allowed herself to enjoy reaching each overnight stop.

“I get to these towns that I finish in each day and I’m not allowing myself to celebrate,” she said.

“Everyone is so celebratory and there’s lots of congratulations, and I love that.

“But as soon as I stop, it’s like my body just turns to stone.”

Even simple tasks became painful, like getting into a shower chair, climbing into bed and trying to sleep.

“I didn’t get much sleep the whole week,” she admitted.

Sam received a warm welcome in Uranquinty on Monday | Images: Ohhbulldust

The hills that tested her most

Every day brought a new challenge.

For almost 50 kilometres between Kapooka and Junee, Sam pushed through soaking rain and slippery conditions before reaching the final test of the day — the Mad Mile, a five-kilometre straight stretch of the Olympic Highway into Junee that culminates in a punishing climb.

Drenched to the skin, she ground her way to the top, reaching the halfway point of her remarkable journey.

Sam pictured beginning the climb into Junee on Tuesday | Image: © The Junee Bulletin

After enjoying a strong run between Junee and Illabo the following morning, Sam knew the hardest terrain of the challenge still lay ahead.

Beyond Illabo were the climbs of Bethungra and Frampton, before the relentless hills between Harden and Bowning that she knew all too well from living in the region.

“I had such a good run to Illabo,” she said.

“There were some beautiful little downhills, a couple of rolling hills and some beautiful flats. Everything felt so good.”

But after stopping at Illabo, her momentum disappeared.

“We got pulled up with the school kids, which was so lovely, then the news wanted to do something, and from there to Bethungra I just couldn’t get a roll on,” she said.

“The spirits slipped and I lost my focus.”

By the time she reached Bethungra, the enormity of what lay ahead suddenly hit her.

“I knew I had these two huge hills to conquer,” she said.

“I looked at my partner as he was about to leave and I just bawled my eyes out.

“‘How am I going to do that?'”

Looking back, she can laugh about it now.

“Those two hills were nothing, NOTHING compared to what I faced on Friday,” she laughed.

“The road between Harden and Bowning was uphill from the moment I left Harden. Uphill about 15 times.”

Sam tackling one of many climbs between Wallendbeen and Harden on Thursday | Image: Instagram/@eagleangel

A week that disappeared

Despite spending seven days on the road, Sam said the journey had somehow passed in a blur.

“It feels like I’ve been on the road forever,” she laughed.

“But it also feels like I only started two days ago.”

She had imagined endless hours to think.

Instead, every moment became about survival.

“I really thought I would have so much time this week to think and create because that’s all I do every day.

“But I haven’t been able to grab hold of a single thought for seven days.

“I’ve done nothing but think about…

‘Push.’

‘Breathe.’

‘White line.’

‘Rough rocks.’

‘What time is it?’

‘How many k’s?’

‘Where are we?'”

Image: © The Junee Bulletin

One final celebration

By late Friday night, donations had surged beyond $130,000, with the tally continuing to climb ahead of Saturday’s finish as supporters made one last push towards Sam’s ambitious fundraising goal.

For Sam, though, the money isn’t what’s occupying her mind this morning.

After seven gruelling days on the road, she’s simply looking forward to stopping.

“The thing I’m looking forward to the most when I finish is a beer,” she laughed.

“I just can’t wait to finally celebrate.

“I’m really excited to have the community together.

“I’m looking forward to seeing everyone… having a beer with friends and patting my dog.”

Image: Supplied

By this afternoon, the relentless routine that has defined the past week will finally come to an end.

There’ll be no more long hours watching the white line disappear beneath her wheels.

No more wondering what waits over the next hill.

Instead, there’ll be cheers from the finish line.

A community ready to celebrate.

And, at long last, the chance to put her feet up.

While Samantha Longmore’s remarkable journey may end today, its impact is only just beginning.

Over the past week, she has sparked conversations about rural mental health, united communities across southern New South Wales and inspired thousands of people to rally behind a cause that means so much to so many.

By the time she rolls into Yass this afternoon, the kilometres will be over, but the message won’t be.