Walk raises over $13k for mental health

Kylie Lang was thrilled to have completed her "I Am Not Alone" walk of the North Island, finishing in Wellington yesterday. Photo / Supplied

Rotorua's Kylie Lang has walked the length of the North Island and raised $13,700 for the Mental Health Foundation, but she won't stop there.

Ms Lang is the Rotorua Daily Post Person of the Month for December for her contribution to mental health fundraising and awareness, walking 72 days from Cape Reinga to Island Bay in Wellington on her journey called "I Am Not Alone".

She finished her walk yesterday and plans to walk the length of the South Island for the same cause next year.

"It's really exciting, I am really tired but it's a really good feeling to finish.

"A major highlight has been the people. I have had someone walk with me each day, so meeting new people and sharing the experience with others has been the best thing," she said.

She is planning to compile the stories she has heard on her travels into a book, but her immediate plans were to relax.

"My plans are to eat a lot at Christmas and to have a 10-day holiday in Melbourne with family."

Her walk has not only raised funds for mental health, but opened up discussions around mental health issues, she said.

"The walk has made a difference, even if it has just been the people that have talked with me and walked with me. We have had some deep conversations around mental health," she said.

Fortunately there were no mishaps or injuries along the way, she said.

"Everything went to plan, I had a buddy for the whole trip. A lot of it was quite remote especially up north.

"Kiwis are great people. Before I started I would think that Kiwis are generous and loving and really good people, but my walk has just cemented that." If you want to get in touch with Kylie Lang or join her for a leg of her South Island walk visit www.walknz.org.