500km walk pays off for 12-year-old determined to meet the PM

A 12-year-old schoolboy from western New South Wales has turned a 500-kilometre walk to Canberra into $2 million that will be used to help country children needing medical care.

Dusty Langby arrived in the nation's capital on Monday after walking from his hometown of Warren with an ambitious goal — to raise $500,000 for rural health charity Little Wings and convince the prime minister to match it.

Today he met Anthony Albanese at Parliament House and got more than he had been hoping for.

In a social media post, the prime minister made it clear that the 12-year-old's determination would be rewarded.

"Dusty has done something extraordinary and has walked 540km to help seriously ill children and their families," Mr Albanese said in the post.

"My government will match every dollar Dusty has raised so his incredible effort can make an even bigger difference.

"On top of that my government will invest another $1 million to keep Little Wings flying and help regional families get their children the care they need."

Little Wings provides free air and ground transport for seriously ill children in regional and remote areas, as well as flying paediatricians into communities where specialist care can be difficult to access.

Speaking to the ABC after the announcement, an overwhelmed Dusty said he was still taking in what his campaign had achieved.

"I feel really, really good," he said.

After more than two weeks on the road, he said he was looking forward to spending time with his family on Tuesday night.

The charity's chief executive Clare Pearson, who joined Dusty for the walk and the meeting at Parliament House, said the group was overwhelmed by the announcement.

"Honestly, we were just crying. We had no words," she said.

"Once [the prime minister] walked out of the room, we were screaming with joy.

"We're just so grateful because we know what this is going to mean to country kids and their families."

An idea born at the family dam

Dusty's fundraising mission began earlier this year during a conversation with his mother at their family dam.

The cause was already close to home, with both Dusty and his younger brother Angus having previously been flown from Warren to Sydney by Little Wings for specialist medical appointments.

Inspired by his own experience and the difference he had seen in his community, Dusty decided to walk to Canberra and personally ask the prime minister to match the money he raised.

Speaking to the ABC after arriving in the capital on Monday, Dusty said he wanted his fundraising to help more country children access the service.

"It's just such an amazing cause," he said.

"The pilots and the volunteers are such kind people, and they all are just really kind, and I wanted to help."

Ms Pearson said the combined funding would support about 600 Little Wings missions, including flying paediatricians into regional and remote communities to deliver hundreds of free specialist clinics.

"Kids shouldn't be missing out on healthcare because of their postcode," she said.

"This funding and just these incredible efforts will allow us to do that and make sure that every community has a paediatrician if and when they need it."

Ms Pearson said the journey to Canberra involved blisters, tears and difficult days, but support from communities along the route helped keep the group going.

"I think it is testament to when young people have a dream and they have the right support around them, and people just saying 'let's give it a go', what can be achieved," she said.

"I hope it inspires other people to think big, to dream and to demand greater service for their communities as well."