Lottie Ryan shares her personal story, of taking part in the Outback Long Ride with Sarah Wheeler.

By guest writer Lottie Ryan

When I first heard of “the girl who was riding through Hay for charity”, my immediate thought was how awesome that would be riding your horse through town. 

However, after more pondering, I realised how many people’s stories you hear about are similar to Sarah Wheeler’s. 

Less involving riding a whopping 5,500 kilometres around New South Wales and Queensland, but a hideous amount of people just like her, with family members or close friends being heartbreakingly taken from them by various cancers, including the upper GI cancers such as oesophageal cancer, stomach cancer, small bowel cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma (also known as bile duct cancer). 

Cholangiocarcinoma took the life of Sarah’s mother, Therese Wheeler. 

As much as all advocacy is necessary, it is absurd that these rare, deadly cancers get so overlooked when it comes to fundraising and awareness, which demonstrates how pioneering, initiative, and courageous Sarah is, being able to utilise her own tragic grief, to motivate herself to keep going on her journey with her beautiful horses, Sally and Shifty. 

So, when the opportunity opened for me to ride alongside Sarah with my horse, it was a no-brainer that I took it up. 

Despite the fact that I am no morning person, there was something so special about being awake and with the horses at five o’clock in the morning, the peaceful calmness of the Earth slowly waking up, and watching the sun rise to the sound of the horses walking along. 

As we followed Sarah away from the floats at the start of the track, watching her ride off with her horses was so moving and inspiring, knowing she had been through so many extreme hardships at only 27 years of age, but still strives to make the best of each and every day. 

Having never done anything like riding across the bridge and through town before, the excitement and the calming sound of hooves clopping along the bitumen road, together, was so fulfilling, and a well-deserved cool off and drink for the horses at Sandy Point was secured. 

Apart from being exhausted and sore the next day, just a fraction of what Sarah has had to deal with since May 2024 when she set off on her big trek, I am incredibly grateful that I got the opportunity to meet such a determined, positive, strong, kind and inspiring person, let alone ride with her, in my teenage years. It is rare people get these lucky opportunities and experiences, as well as influence and inspiration from such people as Sarah Wheeler. 

Her life story has reminded me to be grateful for the small things in life and to take every opportunity that comes up, and appreciate it.

Riding alongside her also refreshed my mindset into a positive frame, seeing her accomplish amazing achievements at such a young age, proving to myself and other young women that they can, too, accomplish anything they set their mind to. 

Thank you to Sarah Wheeler for allowing me to ride with you for that short stint of your journey, your effect on people in your tracks is immensely special and appreciated.

Lottie is completing her secondary studies and is an avid writer. In 2024 she completed a stint of work experience with the teams from Back Country Bulletin and The Riverine Grazier.