From birthday tradition to spinal cord injury awareness: Ciska’s story.
What began as a fun way to celebrate a birthday has grown into something far more meaningful.
Last year, Ciska marked her birthday by walking 35km with a group of close friends. It wasn’t a race—just a beautiful day spent walking together and catching up. Some friends joined for the entire walk, others met up for a stretch, lunch, or a coffee. The sense of connection and achievement was so powerful that they all agreed to make it an annual tradition.
This year, that tradition has taken on new meaning.
Ciska and her friends are now walking alongside someone very dear to them—a friend, Mari, whose son sustained a traumatic spinal cord injury during a rugby tackle earlier this year. It’s been a confronting and emotional journey, one that has brought the realities of spinal cord injury much closer to home.
As a physiotherapist, Ciska has seen firsthand how devastating spinal injuries can be—not just for individuals, but for their families and entire communities. That’s why this year’s walk will be in support of SpinalCure and our mission to fund life-changing research.
“Someone casually said, ‘Why don’t we walk for a cause?’ and the idea took flight.”
This October, the group will walk over 35km from Hallett Cove to Outer Harbour. For them, the walk is a symbol of strength and gratitude for the simple ability to move freely—something many people can no longer take for granted. It’s been a confronting and emotional journey, filled with unfamiliar medical terms—and even more unfamiliar realities.
“Our lives will never be the same. But our perspective has changed, too. We now celebrate every toe that wiggles, every hand that waves, and the gentle giant taking his first step, assisted by the two smallest physios in the room.”
Inspired by that strength, Ciska and her community will take on the walk—step by step, just like the recovery journey.
By donating to their fundraising page, you’ll be helping SpinalCure Australia move closer to a future where spinal cord injuries no longer mean a lifetime of paralysis.