Emma Hansen was just seven weeks into training as a Lifeline counsellor in Sutherland before being stuck and killed by a car in March 2007.

The Hansen family have been tireless supporters of the Lifeline cause, with Emma’s parents Mark and Lynne serving as telephone counsellors for 20 years.

And yesterday was no exception, with Mark, Lynne and staff at Hansen Optometrists taking part in Lifeline’s Stress Down 24/7 campaign.

The unique national campaign encouraged people to stress less by, among other things, wearing slippers to work to raise much needed funds for the Lifeline service.

The counselling service received a massive 10,506 telephone calls from the city of Orange in 2007 and has seen a sharp increase in calls this year due to the ongoing drought and rising cases of mental illness.

According to Lynne Hansen, Emma was committed to becoming a Lifeline volunteer, evidenced by what her daughter wrote in an application form to Lifeline before the accident.

“I think that time is one of the most important gifts you can give a person and I have an intense desire to serve and love people,” the form read.

“After the accident, I had lots of people who were training with Emma come to me and tell me what an amazing 20-year-old she was and how much compassion she had for people in need. As a mother, that is one of the most touching things people can tell you,” Mrs Hansen said yesterday.

Following the tragic accident, Lifeline Sutherland has now set up the Emma Hansen Memorial Fund, which has had thousands of dollars of donations.

Emma’s strong support for the cause also prompted Hansen Optometrists staff to take part in yesterday’s Stress Down campaign by donating a sizable portion of the days takings to Lifeline.

“Emma was, and is, doing her bit to help people in life and death,” Mrs Hansen said.