A Launceston woman who experienced homelessness as a child is preparing to run 122 kilometres in 24 hours to raise money for Australians doing it tough.
Sam Lowe will take on the gruelling challenge on October 23, starting at 7am and aiming to keep moving until 7am the following day.
She will run a 1.2 kilometre loop in Invermay, crossing over bridges and along the Esplanade.
The 122 kilometre target represents the roughly 122,000 Australians experiencing homelessness across the country, a cause deeply personal to Lowe.
“When I was 10, 11 years old, I was homeless with my mum for about six months in Launceston,” she told Pulse.
After that period, her eldest brother Darren took her in, became her father figure, put her back in school and gave her stability.
The effort is part of Nedd Brockman’s annual Uncomfortable Challenge, which encourages people to push themselves for 10 days while raising money for homelessness through the organisation We Are Mobilised.
Lowe has extended the challenge each year she has taken part.
In 2024, she ran 10 kilometres a day for 31 days, totalling 310 kilometres.
Last year she upped it to 500 kilometres across October.
This year she decided to compress it all into a single day.
“I wanna get uncomfortable even for 24 hours because one day versus a few weeks, months, even years is nothing,” she said.
The longest Lowe has run in one go is the Gold Coast Marathon – 42.2 kilometres.
She said the 24-hour effort would be more of a mental battle than a physical one.
“I’ve got a lot of good support around me, especially my two brothers that run as well,” she said.
“They’re always pushing me and wanting me to do better.”
Lowe is hoping to raise $10,000 by October 28.
For every $36 donated – the cost of one night of safe accommodation – donors go into a draw to win prize packs.
Anyone is welcome to join Lowe for a lap on the day.
To donate, go here
