By Bronwyn Hastings

Natimuk sisters Steph Lovel and Tayla Hateley will walk from Horsham to Natimuk next month to raise money for their parents as their father battles terminal bile duct cancer.

Diagnosed about two months ago, David ‘Bones’ Hanson’s declining health forced him to stop working about two weeks ago.

Mrs Lovel said she and her sister also hoped to raise awareness of the rare cancer with the 25-kilometre walk.

“We’re going to be leaving the 80K sign at Horsham, and we’ll walk to the Natimuk skate park,” she said.

“When we rang dad and told him we were doing it, he said he didn’t want the attention, but he appreciates it.

“The support we’ve had already is insane – we did not expect it. 

“We have a few people who are keen to walk with us, some want to walk the whole way, some others are just going to do part.

“We’ve had somebody wanting to sell raffle tickets, he’s going to donate some tools, we’ve had somebody that’s going to do up some hats for us so we can sell them. 

“We’ve also got some people who have offered to drive support vehicles, and others who have volunteered to cook a barbecue at the skate park when we finish.”

Mrs Lovel said while her mother, Sue, was still working as much as she can, she has had to take time off work for Mr Hanson’s appointments and care.

“He used to work hard, but his body just wouldn’t really let him anymore, that’s why he was driving for Clinical Labs, but he’s had to give that up too,” she said.

“He didn’t want to, but he was just too sick and in too much pain.”

Mr Hanson’s cancer cannot be removed surgically.

“It’s wrapped around one of his main arteries,” Mrs Lovel said.

“So, it’s just chemo and amino treatment. He had his first round of chemo, but then got pancreatitis and was too sick to go for his second round, so he had to start over again. 

“He can have the treatment in Horsham, and they’ve been great. The cancer centre is amazing – they’ve been so good.

“But it’s just buying him more time.”

Mrs Hateley said their father was putting on a brave face.

“You ask him how he’s going and he says he’s all right, but he’s not, and he will never tell us if he’s not all right,” she said.

“Even with strong pain relief, he just lays on the couch. It’s just not like him.”

The sisters will leave Horsham’s outskirts at 6am on Saturday, October 10 and expect the walk will take between four and five hours.

People can visit the ‘Doing it for Dad’ Facebook page for more information or to donate.

Mrs Lovel said people could support the cause in many ways.

“If people can’t donate or join us for the walk, there are other ways they can help – just sharing the post is good support, honestly,” she said.

“The number of views our posts have had is unbelievable, they just went crazy. 

“It was really lovely, actually.”

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