Woman Completes 1,000km Trail in Wheelchair, MS First

Clare Reilly wheeled through the finish line of the Munda Biddi trail Monday, completing what no one in a wheelchair had done before: conquering 1,000 kilometers of Australia's toughest off-road cycling route.

The trail stretches from Mundaring, east of Perth, all the way to Albany on Western Australia's southern coast. Along the way, Reilly navigated dense forests, granite outcrops, steep mountains, and soft coastal dunes in her power-assisted adaptive wheelchair.

"I just knew that it was a bike trail and because it was a bike trail, it had to be designed for wheels," said Reilly, whose background in outdoor education prepared her for adventure but not necessarily for this challenge. The reality proved far more demanding than expected.

Her husband Jay described the terrain as "rutted, sloping, four-wheel drive tracks that would throw the rig off balance." Every day brought new obstacles and learning experiences, but the couple shares a love for outdoor adventures that kept them pushing forward.

Reilly's multiple sclerosis affects her right side particularly, impacting her balance and strength. Two years ago, she started using a wheelchair full-time, but that only sparked bigger dreams.

Why This Inspires

For six years, Reilly has hosted the podcast MS Understood, sharing stories from nearly 100 people living with the condition. She wants the world to know that MS looks different for everyone: one woman she knows is currently attempting to climb Everest while managing cognitive symptoms.

"I don't want people to look at me with sympathy," Reilly said. "I'm out here doing the Munda Biddi trail in a wheelchair and my family's come along, and it's been an incredibly exhausting adventure, but amazing."

Her journey, documented for an upcoming book and film, aims to raise $100,000 for MS research at the University of Tasmania's Menzies Institute for Medical Research. So far, her Wheelchair Meets Wilderness fundraiser has collected over $15,000.

Supported by her husband, parents, and friends who helped ferry equipment and navigate unpredictable obstacles, Reilly proved that adventure has no boundaries when determination meets community support.