Shannon Nevin expressed his gratitude for how well run the Lithgow event has been. 

As Lithgow was the first rural Walk ‘n’ Talk that Mr Nevin set up, he said he was proud of the amount of support it continued to get. 

“I think people can get behind it because it isn’t a fundraiser, we aren’t asking for people’s money, it’s just a place where people can come and be themselves,” he said. 

According to Mr Nevin, Lithgow has shown spirit and a willingness to get behind the cause. 

“Lithgow is different, because it is a town that really got behind the idea and consistently has good numbers,” he said. 

“Lithgow is really the town that started establishing that it was a community gathering and everyone will be welcomed.” 

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He has since set up nine different Walk ‘n' Talks across NSW and Queensland and Shannon would like to create more. 

“Walk ‘n’ Talk is a powerful community gathering because everyone is there for a reason whether that be because they are in a dark place or have lost someone,” he said. 

“People have many different reasons why they turn up.” 

Mr Nevin’s long term goal is to have hundreds of Walk ‘n’ Talks around Australia.

Walk ‘n’ Talk does not have charitable status. It receives no government funding and, to take it to the next level, Mr Nevin was looking at corporate sponsorship. 

For now though Mr Nevin is happy to continue running his Manly Walk ‘n’ Talk weekly and checking on how the other events are running. 

Mr Nevin said the walk could be for anyone who wanted to talk or for those that wanted companionship. 

“It is good to see that Lithgow is getting that awareness out there, and showing that it is okay to not be okay.”

The next Walk ‘n’ Talk in Lithgow will be held at Blast Furnace Park on Saturday, June 16 at 9.30am.