ABOUT 10 months ago, Tyson Franks received a "wake up call."
In January, the 25-year-old Salt Ash man weighed more than 200 kilograms, and had just been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
"I was really unhealthy, and I was really down and stuff as well," he said.
"I'd tried all these fancy diets, but I just think they are a waste of money, so I thought I'd start to clean up my health by just keeping it simple - eating better and drinking water and exercising."
Around the same time, he discovered a Facebook page called Delta508Warrior. Written by Cassandra Brandon, the page details the day-to-day life of a young Port Stephens woman living with cystic fibrosis.
It inspired him to start walking, with purpose.
On Thursday, at 1am, Mr Franks left Queens Wharf Brewery to embark on a 250 kilometre walk from Newcastle to Sydney to raise awareness of the genetic condition and raise awareness for the Newcastle Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Following months of intensive training to prepare for the walk - which he has given himself seven days to complete - Mr Franks has shed half of his body weight.
"I haven't actually met Cassie personally, but I have been following her journey, and I just don't think there is enough awareness of cystic fibrosis.
"I wanted to try to change that, and make it loud and proud."
Mr Franks has raised close to $1000 via his fundraising page - Tomaree Mountain Tyson - on Facebook.
He would like to raise more.
"I've called myself Tomaree Mountain Tyson," he laughed.
"It's my favourite mountain. Nine months ago I tried to get up there and I couldn't do it. Now my record for going up there is 26 times."
Ms Brandon said Mr Franks had been a great supporter "from day one" of Delta508Warrior.
"He is always full of encouragement and love, when he told me he wanted to raise awareness for cystic fibrosis - CF - I actually got a bit teary," she said.
"It is just so nice to know that there are people out there like Tyson that want to help. Let's just say my heart is full knowing that my message about CF is getting out there."
Ms Brandon started the personal page after she was forced to "retire" from work in January because her lung function had dropped to 18 per cent.
"I feel knowledge is power, and in this case, Cystic Fibrosis isn't very well known - even though it is one of the most common genetic diseases around," she said.
"I thought if I could educate people in CF, not just statistics and numbers, but to give it a face, and explain how it actually affects someone, people might start to understand it better."
The current life expectancy of a person with CF is 37.
"CF is an invisible disease," she said.
"Just because we don't look sick all the time, we are constantly fighting a battling within ourselves, everyday, just to breathe.
"Don't judge a book by its cover, because it's the pages that tell the story."
Ms Brandon said the disease had impacted her life since the day she was born.
"This isn't the case for everyone, but I was sick straight away," she said.
It had prevented her from having a full time job, travelling, and going to university.
To support Mr Franks' "Walk for Cassie", search for Tomaree Mountain Tyson on Facebook.
