Keep an eye out today and tomorrow for a determined walker, Bailey Seamer, who is walking up the East Coast to raise money for the Black Dog Institute.

She is due to arrive in Kiama this afternoon to spend the night before continuing on her journey north.

Bailey, originally from Newcastle, started the walk on 16 May at South Point in Victoria and will finish at the most northern tip of Cape York. She has walked over 1000km already and has over 4000km to go.

Bailey says the walk is to raise money for mental health and to let people know they are not alone on their journey.

“I have bipolar disorder which I’ve been managing since I was a teenager and I really got into hiking as my cathartic outlet,” she says.

“I decided to walk the East Coast for mental health and to try and help the Australians that are suffering with mental health issues and may feel like they are alone, hopeless or helpless.

“I want to shed a light, in a sense, on the fact that there is a life worth living with a chronic condition.”

As part of the walk, Bailey hopes to break the stigma around mental health and have conversations with local communities along the way.

“For me it’s also about starting the conversation with locals when I go into towns and being open and honest about my condition,” she says.

At the start of the walk

“When you’re having a conversation with a local you don’t really know, there’s this really cool open space where people feel judgement free to chat about their experiences.

“You’re not alone if you’re suffering from a mental health condition or supporting someone that is.

“It’s just about hanging in there and putting one foot forward at a time.”

Bailey says she has been welcomed by the communities she has visited and has enjoyed her walk so far. Walking along the Sapphire Coast has been one of the highlights so far.

To support her and the Black Dog Institute, visit her website: www.wandering-minds.org/