While most young people flocking to Sydney for the Catholic celebration will use faster modes of transport, Ms Burke, 26, plans to cycle the 1600km trip.
"I kept wondering what I could do for World Youth Day, I kept asking myself how I could help raise awareness," Ms Burke said.
Realising her love for cycling – the Irish expatriate has never owned a car – Ms Burke decided to pair this passion with raising money to help young pilgrims from the Tiwi Islands and Vietnam make the journey to Sydney. The event will bring Pope Benedict to Australia for the first time.
"It's one of the best opportunities a young person can have – the whole idea of being in one place for the same reason of being close to God will be invigorating," Ms Burke said.
World Youth Day is expected to bring 225,000 young Catholic pilgrims from across the world to Sydney. Ms Burke plans to leave Adelaide in the last week of June and arrive in Sydney on July 15, her 27th birthday and the first day of World Youth Day celebrations, which end on July 20. "It's about the journey of getting there too," Ms Burke said.
She will travel with a support car carrying supplies and her two sisters.
Chairwoman of Adelaide's World Youth Day Coordinating Committee Anne Rhodes said Ms Burke's effort would help raise awareness about World Youth Day.
"Catherine's bike ride is one of a number of creative activities associated with World Youth Day coming out of the Archdiocese of Adelaide," Ms Rhodes said.
"We are pleased to be supporting Catherine as she prepares to raise the awareness of young people to World Youth Day."
All fundraising to bring about 20 Tiwi Island and Vietnamese children to the World Youth Day celebrations closes on June 1.
Any money Ms Burke raises beyond that date will be used to cover her overheads.
For more information or to make a donation go to http:// goanextramile.blogspot.com
If you want to become more involved in the pilgrimage to WYD08, you don't even need to leave home! Journey with Catherine in this blog.
If you want to sponsor Catherine email us www.uniteadelaide@gmail.com to register your sponsorship.
