Ms Richards had taken a wrong turn in Cocoparra National Park and was trying to find her way home when a group of pigs rushed onto the road in front of her in April, 2015. She was found trapped upside-down in her car on Eight Mile Tank Road near Rankins Springs. After extensive surgery and operating-table revivals, she was sent home with plates in her head, hundreds of stitches and memory loss.

As the one-year anniversary of her crash approached, Ms Richards set herself a goal as part of her recovery process. She would walk the nine-kilometre City2Lake.

“I haven’t been too bad lately,” Ms Richards said.

“There are good days and bad days, but most of the bruising has gone now. 

“I still have memory problems but the specialists in Canberra are pretty happy with my progress.”

Prior to the crash, Ms Richards was one of the organisers of Relay For Life and was no stranger to a day on her feet. She had even entered the City2Lake before, last year dressed as the ‘Purple People Eater’. However, after all she had been through, the walk was a significant challenge.

“My goal is to see just how far I can walk,” Ms Richards said.

“It’s another step towards normal for me.

“My daughters and some friends will do it with me and we’re all going to dress up as Disney characters.”

While the physical recovery took place, the emotional recovery was another matter entirely. 

Ms Richards said she rarely got into cars. She tried getting in the driver’s seat once and “felt physically sick”.

“I have to go through a test to see if I can get my license back,” Ms Richards said.

“I just have to build up the nerve to get in the driver’s seat.”