After two years "on the couch" after a mental health issue, Canterbury-based multisport athlete Leisa McNaughton is cycling the length of the country with her best friend, Indy the dog, to raise money for charity and awareness of mental health.
McNaughton and Indy set off from Cape Reinga last Thursday and yesterday arrived in Whangarei ahead of a trip to Dargaville today to continue her journey. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week.
McNaughton was a high achiever - she had a great job, good friends and a love of adventure sports. She had hiked in Nepal, mountain-biked in Banff, Canada, and Colorado US, and adventure raced in New Zealand. Until it all caught up with her.
"My world came to a dizzying stop," she said. "My mental health took a blow and suddenly I couldn't get off the couch."
McNaughton credits her friends, an amazing team of health professionals and her best friend, a part border collie/Bernese mountain dog named Indy, with helping pull her through the worst of it. It's been a year of healing, but now she's off on her next big adventure.