LOVE YOUR SISTER: Actor Samuel Johnson with his unicycle in Horsham yesterday. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
AUSTRALIAN actor Samuel Johnson will ride into Horsham on a unicycle today to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research.
Mr Johnson, who starred in Rush and The Secret Life of Us, will ride 15,000 kilometres around Australia to raise $1 million for the Garvan Research Foundation.
His sister Constance, a mother of two, has been diagnosed with terminal breast cancer with doctors giving her less than a year to live.
Mr Johnson hopes to break the Guinness World Record for the longest journey on a unicycle - 14,686.82 kilometres - with his year-long ride.
He has already raised more than $55,000 and ridden more than 182 kilometres since Friday.
Horsham man Dan Bolwell will ride his penny farthing alongside Mr Johnson as he cruises into Horsham's Roberts Place at noon.
Mr Bolwell, who rode 800 kilometres in eight days to raise money for the Cops N Kids camps last year, said Mr Johnson needed the community's support.
"The main reason I want to go along is to let him know he is supported because I have done long-distance rides," he said.
"When you do have someone with you, it does help you get through. It is going to be horrendously challenging and it is a very admirable challenge for him to take on."
Horsham Lions Club will host a barbecue in Roberts Place, where people can make donations to the ride - titled Love Your Sister.
Nhill Cancer Group has invited people to join the campaign by wearing pink and welcoming Mr Johnson to Nhill's Jaypex Park at 4pm on Friday.
There will be three-legged races, egg and spoon relay races and hula hoop competitions.
Mr Johnson, who has asked people across the country to dare him to undertake a challenge, will attempt to shear a sheep.
Love Your Sister organisers said people could donate at loveyoursister.org.
