Federal Way teens Carter and Gavin Hansen have been mowing lawns for free and for their business since they were 10 years old, but their work was unexpectedly halted after their equipment was stolen.

On Sept. 24, the 15-year-old twins — who have lived in Federal Way their entire lives — said they were surprised when they woke up to get ready for school. Carter Hansen said his initial thought was that the wind must have ripped open their trailer’s door because he didn’t think anyone would get into their stuff. But when he went outside to shut it, he noticed their lawn care equipment was gone.

“I was just surprised. I thought he was joking about it,” Gavin Hansen said. “I was just getting ready to get in the shower, and he told me. So I was just shocked.”

Their mother, Tami Hansen, said after discovering their equipment was stolen, they just went on with their usual morning routine of rushing to school. She said she thought, if only the criminal who stole her boys’ equipment knew who they were stealing from.

The brothers began mowing lawns when they were 10 years old, when they attempted the “50 Lawns Challenge” from WeAreRaisingMen.com. The organization challenges boys and girls between ages 8 and 17 to cut 50 lawns free for the elderly, disabled, single parents, veterans, and anyone in need of help in their town.

Tami Hansen said that it took her sons two years to complete the challenge, but once they did, WeAreRaisingMen gifted them a free new lawn mower, weed eater and blower. She said Carter and Gavin completed the challenge when they were 12 years old.

Gavin Hansen said they started by going door-to-door and asking people if they wanted their lawns mowed. Then, when they got the equipment, they started adding on to their services, blowing leaves and landscaping.

Tami Hansen said that over the three years since they started the business, her sons have replaced the original equipment and even bought an additional hedge trimmer, gas cans, and a tree trimmer they never got to use. She said they bought this equipment from the money raised from their business. After the theft, they were left deflated and devastated because they couldn’t do any work to recoup their losses.

But quickly after they got their equipment stolen, Tami Hansen started a GoFundMe to see if they could get any support so her boys could buy some new equipment. As of Oct. 2, the GoFundMe page has raised $3,365, surpassing their goal of $2,500.

Tami Hansen said it’s been such a blessing, and her boys are also joyous of the support they’ve received.

“We’re so thankful. We don’t think we could do it without them,” Carter Hansen said. “Family, the community, and people we don’t even know are pitching in.”

Now, with the money they’ve raised, Carter Hansen said they’re going to buy even better equipment than what they lost. With the money he and his brother will continue to make from their business, Carter Hansen said they’re just going to continue saving for college and buying a car.

Carter and Gavin Hansen said they will soon be buying the new equipment so they can get the business up and running again by this weekend. They said people can reach them at 253-651-6098 or 253-778-9168 if they would like their lawn care services.