By Melissa Blewitt

Sarah Wheeler is on an inspiring journey of resilience, love and hope.
In her quest to raise awareness and funds for upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancer research, she is undertaking ‘The Outback Long Ride’ – a 5,500 kilometre (nine month) horseback journey to honour her late parents.
She, and her support drover Kaitie Nash (plus her cherished horses Sally and Shifty), made a stop in Condobolin on Thursday, 23 January, where she was able to share the story of the devastating loss of both her parents, Therese and Gavin Wheeler, and how that motivated her to begin a deeply personal pilgrimage.
She lost her mum, Therese, to Stage IV Bile Duct Cancer in July 2022, just five months after her diagnosis. She was only 56. Her Dad, Gavin, passed away suddenly from an enlarged heart in 2010, at 46.
“The grief of losing my parents has given birth to a mission – a Grief and Upper GI Cancer Fundraising project called ‘The Outback Long Ride’; a solo journey on horseback to raise awareness, help me heal, honour my parents’ lives and their love of horses, and to do something to incorporate my love of capturing rural life and the people within it,” Sarah said on www.theoutbacklongride.com.au
Sarah, along with her beloved horses and a camera is intent on capturing the lives and stories of everyone she meets on her journey.
Her love and respect for rural Australia is intrinsically linked to who she is. Sarah was raised in Rowena in North West NSW, and she along with her three sisters, discovered a love of photography and visual story telling from a young age. She owns her own business, ‘Beneath the Brim’ which was inspired by her late father’s love of his wide brimmed hat, which he wore everywhere.
According to www.theoutbacklongride.com.au “Each year more than 8,000 Australians will die of an upper GI cancer – pancreatic, liver, stomach, biliary and oesophageal cancers.”
“Upper GI Cancers account for approximately one in five cancer deaths each year. The five-year survival rates for upper GI cancers in Australia today remain worse than outcomes for all cancers observed in 1975.
“Australians living in remote areas are 1.3 times more likely to die from cancer compared to those living in major cities.
“This year in 2024 it is estimated that over 2,226 Australians will be diagnosed with either gall bladder or biliary tract cancer. There is no early detection test, and there is a five-year survival rate of just 18.3 per cent.”
All funds raised go to support both charities Pancare Foundation (the leading organisation inspiring hope, raising awareness, supporting families and funding research for upper GI cancers) and A Daughter’s Way (Sarah’s own charity designed to support rural families experiencing grief in rural Australia).
“Each year in Australia, around 1 in 20 children (which is just over 300,000 children) will experience the death of a parent before the age of 18. To put this statistic into perspective, at least one child in every school classroom is grieving the loss of a parent. In farming families, this statistic can be even higher due to increased risk of workplace fatality and higher rates of suicide. There is a lack of support for families in regional and rural Australia when families are struggling with grief,” www.theoutbacklongride.com.au said.
Once Sarah’s journey is completed, she will share her time on the road through a photography exhibition, a commemorative book, and a documentary film.
“My vision extends beyond the ride itself. The overwhelming support from rural communities underscores the strength and solidarity within these areas, fuelling my determination to make a difference,” she said.
You can help make a difference, by visiting www.theoutbacklongride.com.au and clicking on the donate button. By donating $40, you can help provide targeted information to someone who has just been diagnosed with upper GI cancer. A $100 donation enables a patient or carer to attend a monthly online support group. Sarah has already raised over $215,000.
“I invite you to join me in supporting this cause with a tax-deductible donation. Your kindness and generosity will help make a difference as we strive to improve outcomes for those affected by upper GI cancers,” she said.