Its 3 am, and I’m shutting off my alarm and slowly getting out of bed. I'm getting ready to drive 3 hours to catch Sarah Wheeler as she rides her horses Shifty and Sally into Nyngan. After a quick breakfast and a coffee, I check my phone. Sarah’s dropped me a pin, it’s time to hit the road.

Wait Xanthe, who is Sarah Wheeler?

Let me explain.

In 2024 Sarah embarked on a 5,500km horse ride through outback Queensland and New South Wales. Her goal is to raise $250,000 for the Pancare foundation, specifically bringing awareness to Upper GI cancers after losing her mother, Terri, to pancreatic cancer in 2023.

3 hours later I’m driving past the Big Bogan. Its 6am and the first light of the day is peaking over the sleeping town of Nyngan. As I pass through the town, I think about the coffee I will be having in a few hours, it’s going to be a good one.

I head out of town along the Old Warren Road and a few minutes later I spot the iconic Landcrusier and horse trailer parked in a driveway. I pull in and hope I’m not freaking Katie out with my presence. Katie Nash is Sarahs support driver. After connecting on social media, Katie and Sarah have been taking NSW by storm.