General News
14 March, 2022
Anson’s goal breaking efforts for sister’s treatment
Wimmera resident Sam Anson has exceeded his own expectations and goals after running 228 kilometres within 24 hours.
WIMMERA resident Sam Anson has exceeded his own expectations and goals after running 228 kilometres within 24 hours.
Mr Anson embarked on the run to raise money for his older sister Kelly who has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma.
Ms Anson was diagnosed with the rare disease in the lungs caused by asbestos in September 2021 and was given 12 to 18 months to live.
After going through a medication regime with a palliative care team and immunotherapy Ms Anson was also diagnosed with a brain tumour in December.
Ms Anson had open brain surgery and began radiation on February 8 to reduce the risk of regrowth.
The 41-year-old, mother of two has a bucket list that includes visiting the Halls Gap Zoo with family, skydiving, hot air ballooning, a holiday to Tasmania on the Spirit of Tasmania, a trip to New Zealand, an alleyway art tour in Melbourne and a V8 supercar hot lap.
Mr Anson aimed to raise $50,000 for Ms Anson’s treatment and to help her tick off some of her bucket list items.
“We nailed the goal and in the end we raised $62,138,” Mr Anson said.
“I couldn’t believe it; the generosity has been mindblowing.
“Last year I did a run for mental health and raised $3500 which I thought was pretty good and thought I might be able to make $10,000 on this one but put the far fetched goal of $50,000 out there just to see what would happen.”
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Mr Anson ran around a two-kilometre lake in Portland on February 26, his late mum’s birthday, for the entire day.
He invited people to make donations and sponsor him per kilometre he ran, to run or walk with him, to donate time on the day to assist and to donate a bucket list item.
“I survived, which is the main thing, my legs didn’t fall off although they felt like they might at some points,” Mr Anson said.
“The day went incredibly well, I had no injuries so I couldn’t have planned it better if I tried.”
Mr Anson said he had someone running beside him for the entire day.
“I did not run one lap by myself, someone was running with me every step of the way,” he said.
“I was joined by 10-years olds to 50 and 60-year-olds, it was crazy.
“Some of the people were people I knew, but plenty of them I met on the day and when we were running there was always a different conversation which I think helped distract me.
“Sometimes I just had to concentrate and get through it but I spoke to people for the majority of the time.”
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Mr Anson said that once he hit his straps around the lake he powered through the laps.
“I didn’t expect to go the distance I did; in the end 100 laps which was around 228kms,” he said.
“A big thank you to anyone who helped on the day and donated experience, time, goods and money, it's been amazing.”