The 37-year-old set off from his home in Budgewoi on Friday, August 23 and will pass through the Great Lakes on his 1,000km-plus journey this Friday.

His end goal? To reach Brisbane by October 6 so he can take part in Walk for Awareness, Australia's largest mental health walk, and to talk to as many people as he can along the way.

Speaking to the Great Lakes Advocate before he set off, Bryan said he was inspired to embark on the journey after going through his own mental health struggles late last year.

"I decided I'm making a stand," he said.

"I want to help break the stigma and let people know they're not alone."

No stranger to big trips or the concept of giving back - having travelled extensively overseas and volunteered in schools and orphanages - he nonetheless considered this latest journey his biggest undertaking yet.

With the support of the Budgewoi community behind his cause Live to Give Oz, he raised over $3,000 for the Mental Health Awareness Foundation in the lead up to his trip, hosting music events, fluoro yoga sessions and a karaoke party.

He also had a lot of friends and businesses donate money and other goods to his cause.

"It's been really, really good," he said.

Reaching out to the Great Lakes' community, he encouraged people who saw a figure in fluoro walking along the road on Friday, August 30 to stop and have a chat, no matter what was going on in their lives.

"I want to reach out to as many people as possible," he said.

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Walk for Awareness will see participants walk eight kilometres through Brisbane as the opening event for Queensland Mental Health Week.

According to the event's website, it's an opportunity for the community to come together to support each other, break the silence on mental illness and contribute to the funding of programs that are making a difference on the front line with mental health issues.

To find out more, click here.

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