Nominated by
Kaitie Nash
January 24, 2025
Hello, my name is Kaitie Nash and I’m writing to nominate an extraordinary young woman Sarah Wheeler. She has ridden 4816kms, out of her 5500 km journey, on horseback through outback Queensland & New South Wales and is raising awareness and funds for upper GI cancers. The money raised is going to Pancare Foundation and her current total is $212,672.00.
Sarah and I met via social media in Dec 2023 when she put a call out for a support driver. I had been watching her journey from the start but wasn’t able to assist so when I saw that she needed someone I immediately put my hand up (that was after I checked with my husband that he was ok to have our kids) and within 2 hours I was packed and ready to meet her the next morning.
Sarah who is one of four girls, lost her father in 2010 to an enlarged heart and her mother in 2022 to bile duct cancer. When her father passed suddenly her mother, (a city girl, model and flight attendant) was left to run the family cropping farm along with raising all four girls solo. Sarah’s journey began as a way to heal from the grief of losing her parents with the hope of raising funds and awareness for the Pancare Foundation to provide research into early detection for these cancers.
What makes Sarah’s journey so inspirational is the powerful effect it’s having on the country towns she visits. Each stop has sparked incredible grassroots support, with locals gathering at their community pubs—often with just 1/2 or 1 days’ notice—to host raffles, auctions, and fundraising events. In towns with populations as small as 130 people, the generosity has been overwhelming, with some communities raising up to $4000.00 in a single event. Local businesses are also stepping up, donating goods and services to further support the cause and the ripple effect this is having on local communities has been profound! She is bringing people together in a way that go beyond the typical fundraiser, amplifying the importance of connection especially when isolation is a significant challenge in these small communities.
Sarah’s journey will end on February 22nd 2025 where she will ride one last time into her home town of Rowena NSW. She is inviting those she has met along the way to join her in celebrating all that she has achieved on this journey and to share the launch of her own charity ‘A Daughters Way’.
The charity will aim to create all expenses paid, weekends to 7 day retreats, group camps or group expeditions run by trained mental health professionals, and developed by clinical psychologists, to support rural families experiencing grief and loss in Australia.
I believe her story is an inspiring and heartwarming example of how a personal mission can unite communities, support local businesses and inspire others. As her support driver, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the positive impact Sarah is having on those around her. People are drawn to her vulnerability, warmth and kindness which in turn is giving them the confidence to share their own stories of loss and grief.
Sarah’s journey has become so much more than a young woman healing her hurt. She is demonstrating incredible resilience but also capturing the incredible spirit of rural Australia.
She is a young woman who inspires me everyday to get out of my comfort zone, be vulnerable and challenge myself. I believe she deserves to be recognised for being her awesome self.