Mrs Hansen, who lost her fight in 2010 after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 3½ years earlier, is the reason her son will support Cancer Council WA this weekend by cycling in the Ride to Conquer Cancer.
It will be the fourth time Mr Hansen has taken part in the two-day charity event on the anniversary of his mother’s death, fundraising money for the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research with his teammates.
The 36-year-old self-employed chef said his team had raised about $50,000 in three years and that with 12 riders in Sons of Janarchy taking part this year, he hoped to match that total.
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READ NOWMr Hansen said events such as this were important in helping to raise money for cancer research, looking to find the cure for cancer so no one else had to suffer this deadly disease.
“Watching my mum waste away in front of my eyes is the hardest thing I have ever had to do,” he said. “I felt so helpless, useless.”
In the 12 months after his mother passed away, Mr Hansen’s life started to spiral out of control and nothing in his life mattered anymore.
Mr Hansen said seeing an advertisement for Ride to Conquer Cancer was the turning point and that after contacting friends a team was formed.
“I no longer felt helpless, useless – I could do something,” he said.
To donate, visit www.conquercancer.org.au/index.html