Samantha Gash (born 14 October 1984) is an Australian professional endurance athlete, social entrepreneur, motivational speaker.[2][3][4] As an endurance athlete, Gash focuses on long distance expedition runs and adventure races. She is an ambassador to numerous organizations and events including World Vision, Lululemon Athletica, Run Melbourne and Travel Play Live.[5][6][7][8]
Samantha Gash | |
|---|---|
 Samantha Gash with husband Mark Wales and son Harry | |
| Born | 14 October 1984 |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Occupation(s) | Endurance athlete, social entrepreneur, motivational speaker |
| Spouse |
Mark Wales (m. 2019) |
| Children | 1 |
Career
editEndurance running
editIn 2010 at the age of 25, Gash became the first woman and youngest person at the time to complete the Four Deserts Grandslam, four 250 km desert ultramarathons completed in four deserts in the world (Atacama, Gobi, Sahara, Antarctic) in one calendar year.[9] At the time only two male athletes had completed this challenge.[10] Gash and three other ultra-marathoners were the subjects of the 2013 documentary film called Desert Runners, which followed their journey throughout the four races and looked at the mindset of endurance athletes.[11][12]
Social change projects
editGash has used her ability to run long and connect it to social change projects that link to female empowerment and access to education programs.[13]
In 2012, Gash ran 379 km non-stop across Australia's Simpson Desert. She raised around $32,991 to fund a Save the Children education initiative in Australia.
In 2014, Gash collaborated with UK ultra-runner Mimi Anderson and together they founded Freedom Runners.[14] It was an initiative that combined a fundraising and awareness campaign around the high cost of feminine hygiene products for women in Sub-Saharan Africa and its link to female absenteeism in school.[15] Over 32 days they ran 1,968 km across South Africa’s Freedom Trail and raised over $55K for a Save the Children program. They ran an average of 64 km every day and had no rest days.[16]
In 2016, Gash became a World Vision Ambassador and collaborated with the not-for-profit on a concept to run from the West to East of India and use it as a means to explore the barriers to quality education.[17] The campaign was called Run India and raised over $150,000 to support six World Vision education focused programs across the country. Gash, as the solo runner supported by a crew, ran 3,253 km over 76 days, visiting 16 communities that World Vision support.[18][19] This included visits to schools, a malnutrition clinic and a self defence program in the urban slums; economic development projects in the Himalayas and home visits in the desert.[20][21]
Professional and speaking career
editGash worked as a lawyer at international law firm Baker & McKenzie for just under a year, later working in a boutique financial advisory firm owned by one of her friends (Wealth Enhancers) and in communications.[22][23] She is now a motivational speaker on the speaker circuit,[24][25] currently writing her first book with Macmillan Roaring Brook Press.[26]
Other projects
editGash was a contestant on the fourth season and eventually returned for the seventh season, Blood V Water, of the reality TV show Australian Survivor. She also competed on World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji[27][28] where she participated on Team Aussie Rescue.
Personal life
editGash met the former SAS officer Mark Wales during production of Australian Survivor and married him in 14 December 2019. They have one son named Harry.
Awards
editFilmography
edit| Year | Title | Genre | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Desert Runners | Film | Herself | Documentary |
| 2017 | Australian Survivor (season 4) | Television | Contestant | Eliminated; 19th place |
| 2020 | World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji | Television | Competitor | Team Aussie Rescue |
| 2022 | Australian Survivor: Blood V Water | Television | Contestant | Eliminated; 8th place |
References
edit- ^ "Samantha Gash - Booked Out Speakers Agency". Booked Out Speakers Agency. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Getzels, Rachael (4 November 2014). "Ultra Marathon Champion Samantha Gash On Running The World's Most Extreme Race".
- ^ "Samantha Gash- Guest Keynote & Event Speaker | ICMI". Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Crossing India in pursuit of quality education". ABC News. 3 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Run India - how far will you go | World Vision Australia". www.worldvision.com.au. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Run Melbourne Ambassadors 2017". Sole Motive Events. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Running or Walking: Melbourne's Top Tracks". Lululemon. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Samantha Gash". TRAVEL PLAY LIVE Australian Women's Adventure Lifestyle Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "4 Deserts (2017) Official Website". www.4deserts.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Interview With Samantha Gash: Trailblazing Marathon Runner". GirlTalkHQ. 10 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Harvey, Dennis (14 December 2013). "Film Review: 'Desert Runners'". Variety. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ UK, Rachael Getzels The Huffington Post (11 April 2014). "Ultra Marathon Champion On Running The Most Extreme Race On Earth". HuffPost UK. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "A run across India: Using running as a vehicle for social change - Canadian Running Magazine". Canadian Running Magazine. 21 December 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Serious Sisu: Samantha Gash". SisuGirls. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Melbourne woman to run 55 marathons in a month along South Africa's Freedom Trail to raise funds for Save the Children". www.savethechildren.org.au. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Charleston, Libby-Jane (22 July 2016). "Aussie Ultra Marathon Runner Will Run 4,000 Kms [sic] Across India". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Teens follow running role model". Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Samantha Gash finishes her charity run across India for World Vision Australia – AU Abroad". AU Abroad. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ Charleston, Libby-Jane (17 November 2016). "Aussie Ultra Marathon Runner Completes 76-Day Run Across India". Huffington Post. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "The changing face of India on the move". ABC News. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ ""I kept my eyes locked on the ground." Samantha Gash relives the scariest moment of her run across India". Mamamia. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Women's Agenda - News for professional women". Women's Agenda. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Australian marathon runner Samantha Gash to run for children's education in India". Firstpost. 18 August 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ MotivateMe. "Samantha Gash- This motivational speaker surprises many by her 3800 km run across India for a great cause | MotivateMe.in". motivateme.in. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Speaker spotlight: Samantha Gash, running for a change". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Interview: Samantha Gash - rundaddio.com". rundaddio.com. 1 September 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Surprises galore for Aussie Survivor". NewsComAu. Retrieved 29 June 2017.
- ^ Andy Dehnart (1 August 2019). "Amazon's Eco-Challenge will have 66 teams racing in Fiji—and a new name". reality blurred. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ "A stride for India's youth". Indian Link. 1 April 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Bakers, Norton Rose lawyers feature in Women's Leadership Awards | Asian Legal Business". www.legalbusinessonline.com. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Samantha Gash, Star of the Film Desert Runners: An Extraordinary Achiever Living Life at Her Own Terms - Women Fitness". Women Fitness. 7 April 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.