MS won’t stop her: Portarlington woman Clare Reilly’s 1072km wheelchair challenge
A Portarlington woman is preparing to attempt a feat never before recorded – completing Western Australia’s 1072km Munda Biddi Trail in a wheelchair.
A Portarlington woman who “can’t take an unaided step anymore” is gearing up to become the first person to complete Western Australia’s rugged 1072km Munda Biddi Trail in a wheelchair.
The difficult trail, which stretches from Mundaring to Albany, is considered one of the toughest off-road cycling routes in Australia.
Portarlington resident Clare Reilly, who has lived with multiple sclerosis (MS) for eight years, is determined to use the challenge as a platform to raise $100,000 for MS research.
In 2017, Ms Reilly was diagnosed with MS after months of unexplained lower back pain and a “funny walk”.
“I went to a physio who couldn’t tell me what it was, then an osteo who couldn’t tell me what it was, then a spiritual healer who couldn’t tell me what it was, then finally a GP sent me to a neurologist,” Ms Reilly said.
For two years after her diagnosis, Ms Reilly threw herself into running an outdoor education program, trying to ignore her condition.
“A month after my diagnosis I moved and ran an outdoor education program, and completely ignored my diagnosis,” she said.
“I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to tell anyone.
But when the Covid-19 lockdown brought her back to Portarlington, Ms Reilly could no longer avoid the truth.
“The grief doesn’t go away for the life you thought you were going to have,” she admitted. “But there’s also a new way of looking at the world.”
Ms Reilly started a podcast to connect with others and remind herself that hope was not lost.
Ms Reilly said the transition from an active life to using a wheelchair for nearly all her mobility has been “emotionally confronting”.
The idea of tackling the Munda Biddi Trail came in 2024, when Ms Reilly watched a friend ride horseback along the East Coast of Australia.
“I was feeling a bit sorry for myself,” she said.
“I turned to my husband and said, ‘We should ride the Munda Biddi.’
“It was so big, I thought we could use it to raise money for MS research.”
On November 7, 2024, the couple committed to the challenge.
Ms Reilly has since been busy planning, fundraising and speaking at events to support the cause.
To navigate the rugged trail, Ms Reilly will use a custom-built off-road wheelchair, designed with bicycle components and controlled by a thumb throttle.
The chair, which cost around $10,000 including shipping from the United States, is built to handle narrow bridges, steep hills and fallen logs.
Ms Reilly and her support team – husband Jay, son Elliot, parents and a friend – will set off from Portarlington on April 1, 2025, aiming to finish the trail by May 5.
Along the way, they plan to cover 40 to 60km each day, with a documentary and book project planned for later release.
Fundraising has already passed $25,000, with most accommodation on the trail donated by supporters.
Remaining funds after travel costs will go to MS Australia’s research.
“I’m raising money because I hope one day there will be a cure,” Ms Reilly said.
To follow Ms Reilly’s journey, visit wheelchairmeetswilderness.org.
Originally published as MS won’t stop her: Portarlington woman Clare Reilly’s 1072km wheelchair challenge
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