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22 NOVEMBER 2013 - CHOM BOK TO SIHANOUKVILLE: 138KM

The Beat Goes On

Sourcing untapped reservoirs of energy, Sam demolished the first half of the day at speeds not yet seen on this trip. With a combination of running and cycling, he made his way out of The Kirirom National Park and traded the earthen roads of village life for the paved ones of Troaiong. As we entered Troaiong’s busy streets, Sam had to compete for road real estate with various unruly vehicles.  One of the motorbikes got too close, cutting in front of Sam and knocking him from his bike.  Thankfully Sam’s fall was cushioned by a puddle of mud and roadside trash.  Sam’s staggeringly good nature was omnipresent as he wiped himself off, told the driver of the motorcycle that he was fine and thanked the man for stopping to inquire about his well-being before carrying on.  It would be difficult to make a trip like this without a heavy dose of grace and humility.

By lunchtime Sam had already put in 103km and was able to find a few moments of respite for his worn feet by wading into a river that ran alongside our lunch stop. During this final break we asked Sam to take us back to the beginning of his journey, and his connection to Cambodia and Sala Bai. He talked about his initial visit to

Phnom Penh that motivated him to learn more about Cambodian history and prompted him to think about what he could do to support young Cambodians during this time of national economic rebirth.  It wasn’t until his first visit to Sala Bai that his connection and commitment was fully ignited; “When I visited I saw the impact that Sala Bai had -- their focus on education and guaranteed employment in a growing economic sector -- and how this combination of education and an employment acts as an immediate solution to poverty.”  He went on to talk about the personal transformation this caused saying, “When I learned more about the students themselves, what many of them had been through in order to get an education and get to Sala Bai, it transformed and inspired me.  And it is this inspiration that powers me on.”  We left lunch with a deep appreciation for Sala Bai, their students and Sam’s commitment to helping support them.

Cheeseburger in Paradise

With a fire in his belly and a celebratory cheeseburger on the brain, Sam rode hard in the final 24km stretch on the bike.  The course had saved the best for last, and Sam had to conquer a series of grueling hills during this final push on the bike.  Coming into the booming port town of Sihanoukville, he was unwavering in his decision to end his adventure on the exact beach where the Sala Bai students

celebrate their graduation.  In the final stretch of his eight day journey, Sam found himself running down a carnival-like strip of beach bars and restaurants.  With heavy legs, Sam managed to negotiate one final Cambodian cacophony of hawkers, vacationers and locals to pull his body to the finish line.

Success Was Sam's

Sam reached the finish line at the end of the beach road. Diving into the ocean immediately upon arrival, he savored the final moments of the journey in the sea.  He emerged minutes later, taking time to thank the entire crew and express his thanks to all of those who have been thinking of him, donating and supporting him along the way.  He was resolute in wanting to express to the Sala Bai students that they are his inspiration, saying, “I wanted to leave no doubt that I could deliver and over deliver on what I had told them.  And I can’t wait to go back and tell them that I did it – that we did it together.”

After completing his 701km journey, tired yet elated, Sam headed off to take a well deserved shower and indulge in the cheeseburger that had been occupying his dreams.

Donate to support Sam, Sala Bai and the fight against human trafficking.

Watch 'A Step Between', a short documentary film that chronicles Sam's 2012 Cross-Cambodia Journey through the voice of one courageous human trafficking survivor.

And learn how Sala Bai empowers Cambodia's most impoverished young women to obtain employment in Siem Reap's growing hospitality industry in 'Khatna's Journey: A Sala Bai Story'.

- Meghan Shea