He did it for three and a half months before the cancer ultimately took his dad's life in late 2014, but the journey really started in 2011.

The danger signs were there almost a decade before that when his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2002.

It's one of the main reasons why the Tour De Cure in March next year will have added meaning as riders aim to raise as much money as they can to put towards cancer research.

"In late 2011 dad was diagnosed with a tumourous right kidney which was removed in early 2012," Laws said.

"In mid-2014 he was diagnosed with spinal cancer and that took him in November 2014 so it happened all pretty quick.

"It kind of sucks that stuff."

Laws said his family had been hit by cancer on numerous other occasions with a couple of his father's siblings also losing their lives.

"We lost seven of our hierarchy over a two-year period and when that happens, it decimates a family," he said.

"The upside of all that is every three years at Easter time we hold a family reunion and that's our time to bring everyone together.

"The people at the top of the tree ... there's only two of them left."

Coincidentally, the Laws' family reunion is scheduled to take place one week after the completion of the Tour de Cure in March.

"Everyone's doing their ride for family or a friend to raise money," he said.

"The next family reunion is at Easter next year which is the week after we finish in Noosa so it will be a good place to have it."

Laws said watching his loved ones be taken by cancer had been a painful learning curve.

"We don't live forever and these things tend to sneak up and grab you when you don't expect it," he said.

"We didn't know what timeline dad was on because it hit fairly quickly, but I used to go over there three or four days a week and see him as often as I could."

While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Port Macquarie News. To make sure you're up to date with all the news, SIGN UP HERE.