Handler can't handle messages

Question

I have two methods in a non-ui thread(SomeThread), and triggering these methods via a handler(SomeHandler). I'm starting the thread and then sending messages via handler to be invoked methods of SomeThread.

The problem is, after invoking startWork method, handler never handle messages again, as a result i cant run stopWork method

Question : How i can run stopWork method ?

My thread

private static class SomeThread extends Thread {
    private boolean mWorking;
    private volatile SomeHandler mHandler;

    public SomeHandler getHandler(){
        return mHandler;
    }

    @Override
    public void run() {
        Looper.prepare();
        mHandler = new SomeHandler(this);
        Looper.loop();
    }

    private void startWork(){
        mWorking = true;
        while(mWorking){
            // Doing heavy job
        }
    }

    private void stopWork(){
        mWorking = false;
    }
}

My handler

private static class SomeHandler extends Handler {
    private static final int MSG_START = 0;
    private static final int MSG_STOP = 1;

    private final WeakReference<SomeThread> mThreadRef;
    public SomeHandler (SomeThread thread){
        mThreadRef = new WeakReference<>(thread);
    }

    public void sendPlay(){
        sendEmptyMessage(MSG_START);
    }

    public void sendStop(){
        sendEmptyMessage(MSG_STOP);
    }

    @Override
    public void handleMessage(Message msg) {
        SomeThread mThread = mThreadRef.get();
        if(mThread == null) return;

        switch (msg.what){
            case MSG_START:
                mThread.startWork();
                break;
            case MSG_STOP:
                mThread.stopWork();
                break;
        }
    }
}

Usage of them

SomeThread mThread = new SomeThread();
mThread.start();

// This is working
SomeHandler mHandler = mThread.getHandler();
mHandler.sendPlay();

// This is not working
SomeHandler mHandler = mThread.getHandler();
mHandler.sendStop();