MEET
Sam
15 SEPTEMBER 2025
Sam had only ever heard about multiple sclerosis from a distance, from the MS Read-a-thon at primary school and friends taking part in MS fundraisers. That all changed in 2011.
Sam’s wife, Debbie, had been experiencing a series of unusual health issues, including vertigo, vision issues, and facial paralysis, which eventually led to an admission to hospital. After a few days in hospital, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
This was a time of uncertainty and fear for Debbie and Sam, questions around MS and what it would mean for their future were at the forefront of their minds. Luckily there are so many resources available in Australia for information, counselling and support for people living with MS.
While there is no cure for MS, we’ve been able to put our best foot forward to limit progression.
Having heard about the MS Gong Ride from friends who have taken part previously Sam was keen to give it a try, motivated to support a cause so close to his family. Originally, he was held back by the distance, thinking no way could he complete a 50km or 80km ride. Sam’s confidence started growing when he began mountain biking in 2019, discovering that long distances were achievable for him, even on dirt.
Sam took on the MS Gong Ride for the first time in 2024. Having experience with dirt biking, Sam was confident on a bike but still unsure how road cycling would go, especially for 54kms. When we asked Sam how he found his first MS Gong Ride, he said this:
It was amazing - on multiple levels. The ride itself was beautiful, I’d ridden some portions of the track, but I was always sharing the road with cars. Having the opportunity to ride segments like the National Park and the Sea Cliff Bridge when it’s only other cyclists on the road was amazing and something I'll remember for a long time.
The ride wasn’t as tough as Sam had expected, remembering that when he saw the “10km to go” sign he wished that it would go for a little longer. This is the moment he knew he would return in 2025 to complete the 80km ride.
Sam knows firsthand the importance of fundraising for support services for people living with MS. After smashing through his first two goals, Sam set his fundraising target for $5,000, and his friends and family came through to beat that too. The support and generosity from his community was overwhelming.
I’d never in a million years thought it would be possible to achieve something like that and am still very humbled and thankful for every donation we received.
This year Sam is sharing the load by starting up a team full of friends and family, the Mangled Shins MTB Club. Already a team of 8 members, we can’t wait to see them crossing the finish line at Thomas Dalton Park!
Being a fundraising superstar himself, Sam has 3 key tips for fundraising:
- Get the message out there - keep it light, keep it interesting. Share why you’re riding and what the cause or the ride mean to you. Facebook and Instagram have been great channels for me personally.
- Make it fun - this is not a race. I see it as the cycling equivalent of a fun run and the sense of achievement at the end is huge.
- Ride with friends – it's an awesome experience so why not share it?
We can’t wait to see what you achieve Sam; we’re all cheering you on!
