Fundraising biker visits South Hedland

South Hedland had an inspiring visitor pass through last week, when Sydney-based IT executive Claire Healey rode through on her BMW motorcycle.

Her stopover was part of a 14,000km trip around Australia to raise $500,000 for connective tissue disorders. The cause couldn't be closer to home for Healey, who has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, an incurable connective tissue disorder which often leaves her in excruciating pain.

"I've got hyper-elastic tissue all throughout my body and that's due to a collagen deformity," she said. "What that means is my collagen will continue to stretch like an elastic band and it won't regain its shape, it'll just keep stretching so thin that it tears away.

"One of the ramifications is that you're constantly having dislocations of joints. I myself have had seven shoulder reconstructions, nerve transpositions on my elbow, hand surgery, hip surgery, an elbow reconstruction, you name it, I've had it."

Her fundraising journey, called Ride Around Australia for EDS, has taken her from Sydney to Brisbane, across northern Queensland to Mount Isa, through Mataranka to Kununurra and over to Port Hedland, where she arrived last Tuesday.

Ms Healey said she was inspired to get moving after spending 12 months on her back unable to do much, after which she made a conscious decision to turn negatives into positives and make a difference.

She is taking a month to motor around Australia in a bid to raise funds and awareness for the ConnecTeD Foundation, a charity which advocates for people affected by connective tissue disorders.

"I've probably got a limited time span in life before I'm going to be in a chair and I figure (I should) make the most of it," she said.

Ms Healey is riding with a zebra-striped top on, matching the Ride Around Australia for EDS branding which features the African animal on a motorcycle.

"When you hear hoof beats, think horses, not zebras," she said.

"It means think of the most common ailment, not the rare one. I'm turning it on its head by saying 'think of the zebras'."

Ms Healey stayed with local couple Jacqueline and Neil Peet while in Hedland.

"I think Claire is amazing and I don't know how on earth she can actually do it, having EDS myself," Mrs Peet said.

"This is a cause that is long overdue, it is something that is desperately needed especially for all those little tackers that are getting born with EDS. Hopefully we can prevent many of the complications for them in later life."