It all started when Peter Sleap wanted to say thanks to his rugby league mates at former club South Newcastle for helping him out when he needed it most.
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Around 50 people turned up and they collected a few thousand in donations on that particular 2010 afternoon at Merewether.
Almost a decade on, up to 100 beneficiaries assisted and three-quarter of a million fundraising dollars later, the Lions are expecting around 2000 to attend the 10th anniversary of Sleapy's Day at Townson Oval on August 24.
Not only that but the annual event will soon come under the planned Sleapy's Foundation as the man himself, wife Robynn, former Souths secretary Dave Fleming and co. look to continue their charity work to support the likes of Shiralee Wallace, who lost two-year-old daughter Chloe to cancer almost 12 months ago.
"I can't believe that we're here at 10," Sleap told the Newcastle Herald.
"We made a pact, the three of us [Peter, Robynn and Dave], to get us to 10 and then probably pull up stumps, but it's got so big and so popular that we're actually forming a charity called Sleapy's Foundation.
"It's very significant and very special. Ten years in any type of organisation is pretty big these days. It's lasted because of the support."
Sleap, a throat cancer survivor, and Fleming played together for Souths in back-to-back Newcastle Rugby League premierships in 1988 and 1989. Their endeavours off the field have now reached new heights.
Fleming is set to oversee the transition from Sleapy's Day to Sleapy's Foundation, which will eventually allow the current not-for-profit organisation to employ people, apply for grants and both run or endorse other fundraising events.
"The foundation sits up top, so Sleapy's Day will still continue but there'll be a few more arms off it," Fleming said. "A lot of people come up and ask how they can help. We'd just say come over on the day but now they will be able to run their own events as well."
The Sleapy's Day motto is "supporting those affected by cancer or adversity" and as Fleming adds: "we're not about the research or the cure, we're about supporting people on their journey".
Tamworth-based Wallace crossed paths with Sleapy's Day last year when Chloe was undergoing treatment at John Hunter Hospital's Ronald McDonald House.
"The support, not just last year but even now, they [Sleapy's Day] have become part of the family," Wallace said.