The annual Silver Lining Ride raises awareness of ovarian cancer and funding for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation - and during a previous ride his own mother was diagnosed with the disease.

Riders on the 1200km ride from Mildura to Melbourne, will arrive in Ballarat on Friday where Sorensen will join the pack.

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer, with women in regional areas not only facing low survival rates but the challenge of accessing timely treatment after diagnosis.

There is no early detection test for ovarian cancer, which often means that diagnosis happens when the disease is already advanced and, consequently, only 29 per cent of women diagnosed will survive beyond five years.

Mr Sorensen said his mother was lucky to be diagnosed early, undergoing surgery which removed the cancer without needing chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

"I have done the ride from Canberra to Melbourne, then just before I left for my second ride from Adelaide to Melbourne my mum was diagnosed ... so it means something extra now for me," he said.

"I haven't got time to do the whole ride this time so I will join in Ballarat, help raise money and importantly help raise awareness."

Mr Sorensen said many women suffered ovarian cancer or knew someone who did over their lifetime, and it was vital to support research to come up with an early detection test to help save lives.

"Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer, yet it is critically underfunded. Unless this changes, we will continue losing mothers, wives, sisters, daughters, and friends," said Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation chief Lucinda Nolan.

"The OCRF funds research into ovarian cancer to improve lives today and save lives tomorrow."

IN OTHER NEWS

The Silver Lining Ride began in 2017 in memory of two friends lost to ovarian cancer, Mandy Herbert and Helen Hatzis. This year's ride will be led by Mandy's daughter, Georgie Herbert, who co-founded it with OCRF ambassador Clint Stanaway who will also ride, along with fellow OCRF ambassador and former AFL player Campbell Brown, who lost his mother, Kay, to ovarian cancer in 2019.

"The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is 91 per cent, 83 per cent for uterine and 71 per cent for cervical. For ovarian cancer, it is 46 per cent," Ms Nolan said. "For our best shot at improving ovarian cancer survival rates, our collective challenge is to move the fight beyond researchers in the lab to more funding from government, corporates and communities."

Donations can be made at silverliningride.com.au

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