Why one Jan Juc man is riding 2,000km across WA

A prostate cancer diagnosis has inspired Jan Juc resident Marcus Lens to tackle a 2,000km ride across Western Australia in the hope of helping save lives.

The 53-year-old father of three was diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer in March and is riding from Perth to Exmouth to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia while encouraging more men to get tested.

Along the way, Lens is stopping at every pub, club and men’s shed “that will have [him]” to share his story and start conversations about early detection.

Lens said the decision to undertake the ride came in the immediate aftermath of his diagnosis, as he searched for a way to channel the uncertainty into something positive.

“It’s hard to describe the feeling of being told you have cancer,” he said.

“My mind was spinning. I stared at the floor and started thinking about the things I hadn’t done and the things I still wanted to see.

“It’s natural to jump to the worst case and reorder your whole life in an instant.

“The drive home from the urologist brought on a wave of emotions, from sadness to a determination to do something constructive and turn a negative into a positive.

“That was the moment I decided I wanted to get on a bike and ride: to see things slowly, to embrace nature and to raise awareness about prostate cancer.”

Lens said the long days in the saddle had given him plenty of time to reflect on his diagnosis and what he wanted to do next.

“Having a goal is a wonderful distraction,” he said. “Even so, mentally I’m cooked, and I suspect I’ve put my family through the wringer too.”

Prostate cancer is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Australia, with close to 29,000 men diagnosed in 2025.

Around one in five Australian men will be diagnosed by the age of 85.

“I had no idea, and I’m guessing most Australians don’t either,” Lens said.

“A family history of prostate cancer doubles your risk if your father or brother has been diagnosed.

“That means my sons are already carrying a higher risk than most men their age. This ride is for them as much as anyone.”

Lens believes outdated perceptions about the “dreaded finger examination” continue to discourage men from getting tested, despite the examination no longer being recommended under current guidelines.

“I never wanted a bar of that, and it’s actually outdated information,” he said.

Under the updated 2025 guidelines, step one is a simple prostate-specific antigen blood test.

If PSA levels are elevated, the test is repeated. If the result is confirmed, patients are referred for further investigation, which now begins with an MRI before any invasive procedures are considered.

“There’s nothing left to be scared of at the start,” Lens said.

“For most men, the journey ends at the blood test. Happy days.

“For the rest of us, the next steps begin, and starting early is what gives you options. So, let’s get this out in the open, because that’s the only way we save lives.”

To donate, head to fundraise.pcfa.org.au/fundraisers/marcuslens/ride-to-raise-awareness