Catherine is a fiery, gutsy hiker who has MND. She just got back from doing the Sunshine Coast Great Walk with her daughter, Pia Perversi-Burchall. While this achievement is impressive, it’s just the latest chapter in Perversi’s evolving story. Even with a debilitating diagnosis, she courageously pursues peace and healing within the natural world. Perversi’s life expectancy is roughly five years. She’s already spent three of those since her symptoms started to appear. Through all of this, her love of hiking never waned.
When not taking on the trials of MND, Perversi enjoyed traversing long-distance trails. One of her most cherished adventures was the Camino de Santiago trail that she walked from southern France into Spain. As her illness worsened, she faced increasing difficulty with speech and movement. One thing was constant, her love of the outdoors and hiking. Perversi hopes for “bigger skies.” This longing extends past the corporeal; they long for the psychological separation from the cacophony of “mob of my unchanging mind.”
Embracing Challenges
These days Perversi is getting ready to take on Western Australia’s famous Bibbulmun Track. This epic route extends for an astounding 1,000 kilometers. This trek has long been something she has wanted to do, but the need has been escalated since being diagnosed with MND. Perversi is committed to doing so with an 18-kilo pack on her back as she traverses the hilly landscape. She is joined by her daughter Pia and her longtime confidante Rebecca Ryall.
The Bibbulmun Track poses unique challenges, as Perversi explains, “The Bibbulmun Track, on the other hand, requires you to carry the whole shebang.” Though it’s physically demanding and strenuous work, she is determined to finish this challenging hike. I’m glad, I wouldn’t trade this for the world,” she insists in-transit.
Her daughter and friend’s support, she says, “is bottomless.” Pia notes, reflecting on her mother’s resilience during their hikes together, “But she found her feet and energy and was incredible.” On particularly steep sections, Pia adds, “On the last day, there was a really long incline up a really steep cliff face and she took her time.”
Finding Joy in Nature
For sustainability advocate and artist Rebecca Perversi, the answer lies in long walks along the Bibbulmun Track amid the peace and beauty of nature. As her art illustrates, her deep bond with the environment plays a role in healing the mental strain often caused by her illness. “I firmly believe long-term hiking imparts knowledge when you listen well and allow your ears and eyes to stay open to its sounds and beauty,” she explains.
Despite her physical limitations and speech difficulties—her voice described as “quite laboured and slurred” by Pia—Perversi remains focused on the beauty around her. Her blog has served as a healthy creative outlet for her journey. It allows her to share her insights and experiences of life with MND. “I try to be cognisant of the dangers inherent in talking with my mouth full, choking,” she jokes, showcasing her ability to find humor even in challenging situations.
Perversi is bolstered by family and friends. Beyond the trail staff, another volunteer force known as Track Angels provides an immense amount of support. To mitigate the physical demands of a 40-mile hike, they’ll drop food at strategic points along the trail, lightening their loads and making the hike safer.
A Sense of Urgency
Perversi has already been given a terminal diagnosis, and no cure exists. This truth motivates her to hike tenaciously to reach her hiking aspirations. “Given there’s no way of knowing if I’ll still have the use of my legs and arms in a year’s time due to MND, there’s no better time than now,” she remarks. Yet this perspective has become an impetus that propels her daring and desire to tackle the Bibbulmun Track.
UPerversi’s journey celebrates not just her battles with depression and anxiety, but her growth and success in overcoming them. She admits to being crushed by the restrictions MND put on her while shooting her shot with how wonderful long-distance hiking can be.
Death is inevitable when one dies is not,” she declares, driving home her determination to live unapologetically now, in the midst of all that she does not know. Her experiences inspire those around her, including her daughter, who the report shows as admiring her mother’s courage and fortitude. “She would probably cringe at these words, but she is an inspiring woman,” Pia shares.
