Long ride pays off

Vietnam veteran and former SAS officer Laurie “Truck” Sams passed through Katanning on his epic journey from Vietnam to Sydney, accepting donations from a local business as he came through.

Mr Sams travelled though Wagin on his way from Narrogin to Katanning, where he said he received a great reception.

“We had a good response there in Wagin, quite a few people coming out and donating,” he said.

Mr Sams took on the challenge of the 10,000km ride to raise awareness and funds for post-traumatic stress disorder, particularly among veterans, setting out from Hanoi in May.

Mr Sams is taking on the adventure with the added challenge of having lost the lower part of his right leg in a parachuting accident in 1995.

After leaving the warmer climates on the Asian leg, Mr Sams said he was still getting used to the cooler WA weather.

“It was a bit cold for me, just coming out of almost 6000km in Asia where it was very hot and hitting the cold weather down here gets into the muscles a bit, but I’ll get used to it,” he said.

Shortly after leaving Perth, it was announced that former governor-general Major General Michael Jeffery had come on board as the official patron of Mr Sams’ Long Ride Home.

To raise awareness along the way, Mr Sams is talking to Returned and Services League sub-branches and community groups, with more groups hearing of him the further he travels.

“We’ve got events along the way, and as we go along the RSLs are becoming more interested and a lot more are coming on board,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of support along the way, even trucks beeping their horn.

“It’s not only about raising awareness for PTSD but its also about raising funds for our beneficiaries, which are St John of God Richmond, Bravery Trust and RSL Defence Care.”

For more information on Laurie Sams and the Long Ride Home visit www.longridehome. com.au.